Next stations on the Oyster PAYG travelcard fare zones expansions?
Request ID: FOI-1494-2223 Date published: 29 September 2022
You asked
Hello there!
If you look at the latest 'London's Rail & Tube Services Map' and compare it with the boundary of Greater London, you will notice that there are a lot of National Rail stations (alongside London Underground 'Tube' stations) that are shown on the map as part of the Oyster/ Pay-as-you-go/ Travelcard/ Fare zones but if you compare to maps from just a few years ago, most of them would have been missing from the map.
You see in recent years, a lot of non-London stations have been included as part of London's Rail & Tube services maps as the 'Pay-as-you-go' area has been expanded outside the boundaries of London (to places such as Watford Junction, Elstree & Borehamwood, St. Albans City, Hertford East, Shenfield, Grays, Dartford, Swanley, Epsom Downs, Hampton Court & Reading to name just a few).
These stations now appear either as part of:
• Zones 6-9
• 'Outside Fare Zones/ Special Fares Apply'
• 'Outside Fare Zones, Oyster not valid'
According to my calculations, there are 74 such Stations as of today that fall outside the perimeters of the 32 London Boroughs (+ the City of London) and so, I just wanted to ask you - what are the next planned stations outside London that will join London's Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) area in the near future (as part of either of the zone types mentioned above)?
In other words, what are the next stations to join London's Rail map (other than Brent Cross West station that is being built as a new station inside London on the Thameslink route)?
Secondly, just wanted to also ask about London's Airports. You may already be aware that London has 6 Airports to serve the capital, with only 2 of them (Heathrow & London City) located within the borders of London but despite this, both Gatwick Airport & Luton Airport Parkway stations have also joined the London's PAYG map just a couple of years ago, so I just wanted to ask if you are aware if or when the 2 remaining ones - Stansted & Southend Airport stations will follow suit and join this too - as they are just 6-7 stations ahead of the current limits of their respective lines shown today?
Thank you :)
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1494-2223
Thank you for your email which we received on 20 September 2022 asking for information about future Oyster Card zone expansions. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.
Unfortunately we do not hold the information you have requested. The decisions on future expansion beyond London are made by the Department for Transport (DfT). We are in discussions with them on that, but they have not confirmed exactly which stations will be next.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
