TfL Ref: 1712-2425

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25 August 2024 asking for information about TVM acceptance of King Charles’ bank notes.

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

Under the Freedom Of Information Act i request the following information about the new Charles version of the banknotes:

• Do all of your TVMs currently accept the new Charles banknotes? I wish to know if the new £5/£10/£20 are accepted by all of your cash accepting TVMs?

• If so did all of your TVMs accept them from day one (05/06/2024)? Or is it something that has been done more recently and if so when?

• If not then what is the reason for still not accepting them in all TVMs yet? Could you provide a timeframe for when all TVMs will be updated?

• Also if there are still TVMs that do not accept them could you please advise which? Also could you advise if any briefings have been sent out to staff regarding passengers that may be unable to buy a ticket due to this?

The reason i ask is because it has come to my attention that certain TOCs TVMs are still not accepting them so i am trying to find out the situation with yours.

This is in relation to your TVMs at, London Underground stations, London Overground stations, Elizabeth Line stations, Docklands Light Railway stations, Bus stations, and any other cash accepting TVMs you have.

London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line ticket machines all accept the new King Charles notes for the denominations mentioned and have done since June (actually in advance of the start date given by the Bank of England). At a few London Overground and Elizabeth line stations, there were some ticket machines that had a few teething problems but these were promptly resolved.

We have worked closely with our maintainer, but it has not been possible to upgrade the Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) on the DLR to accept the latest banknotes due to the age of the TVMs. There are also Oyster Ticket Stops located near a number of DLR stations where cash purchases can be made. Each year, there are 1.2 million transactions using DLR TVM’s, with around 195,000 of these being cash transactions, and this number is reducing further year on year. However, the vast majority of the 98 million DLR customers each year choose to pay using Oyster or by contactless.  While TfL has a programme to replace these TVM’s in the future, there is no current confirmed timeline for this.

All TVM’s on the DLR still accept coins, previous paper and polymer notes issued showing the late Queen Elizabeth II, and card payments, and we are working with our operator, KeolisAmey Docklands, on the best way to advise our customers that these TVM’s do not currently accept these notes.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any 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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London