FOI request detail

Smart ticketing

Request ID: FOI-0171-1819
Date published: 17 May 2018

You asked

1. The official (public) launch date of your smart ticketing platform 2. The total cost and breakdown of the initial implementation of your smart ticketing system (pre-official launch) 3. The current running costs for the smart ticketing system 4. Did you create an official travel/journey planner app? If yes: o What is it called? o How much did it cost to develop or commission for its development? o Is it still available? To clarify we are seeking information about the Oyster Card system.

We answered

Dear

TfL Ref: FOI-0171-1819

Thank you for your email asking for information about the Oyster card system.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:

  1. The official (public) launch date of your smart ticketing platform

     

    Oyster was launched in phases between 2003 and 2010 as follows:

     

    2003 – Annual season tickets

     

    2004 – Monthly and weekly season tickets launched 

     

    2005 – Pay As You Go including daily capping. All season tickets mandated onto Oyster

     

    2010 – Pay As You Go extended to National Rail services in London

     

  2. The total cost and breakdown of the initial implementation of your smart ticketing system (pre-official launch)

     

    The original development of London’s smart ticketing system was done under the Prestige Public Finance Initiative (PFI) contract where we paid for the services received, rather than investing capital expenditure in the development of the system. It is therefore not possible to identify the development costs for the system. Since the original PFI contract, the ticketing system has continued to be provided as a contract for a range of services related to the ticketing system, which includes the maintenance for and acceptance of magnetic tickets, ticket selling equipment and ticket gates. Again, it is not possible to identify the elements specifically relating to smart ticketing

     

  3. The current running costs for the smart ticketing system

We are able to provide the total costs of the ticketing system which is broken down to some degree for 2012/13. This includes all running and replacement costs for the ticketing system, not just costs specific to Oyster. The numbers are as follows:

  • Ticketing System £67.0m

     

  • Station Staff £4.6m

     

  • Helpdesk £10.3m

     

  • Website £1.3m

     

  • Total £83.2m


4. Did you create an official travel/journey planner app? If yes:
o What is it called?
o How much did it cost to develop or commission for its development?
o Is it still available?

We do not currently offer a journey planner app. We have this service on our website and have made the data feeds available to third party app developers. This has resulted in a number of very successful journey planning and travel information apps being provided by independent parties using our data..

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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