SMARTCARD TICKETING IN LONDON - ALL ABOARD!

This article discusses the new smartcard ticketing system for public transport in London, UK. As part of a larger project to update the ticketing systems, smartcards are complemented by special card readers, more ticket gates, card readers on buses, new ticket issuing equipment and sales terminals, software, maintenance and central support systems. The first phases of the public launch focused on season ticket transfer onto the new Oystercards. Advantages of this are seen as the contactless passage through ticket gates and automatic renewal loading onto the existing card. Fraud reduction benefits are also delivered. The latest phases of the launch are pre-pay tickets: the smartcard can deduct at the end of a day's travel the most economic fare combination. The main benefit is reducing the number of ticket buying transactions. Possible future enhancements include automatic top-up, personal customer accounts, internet sales with instant fulfilment, and mobile phone top-up. The goal is to enable integration with rail industry tickets.