I would like to enquire regarding Oyster card generations. 1) The first generation of cards are not compatible with the new TfL Oyster app - what is the technical limitation behind this? 2) How many other generations of oyster cards exist, and when were they introduced? 3) What are the technical differences between these generations? 4) What plans exist for future Oyster generations? 5) Since the introduction of Oyster, how many journeys made (as a percentage and real number) using Oyster have been with each generation, as well as ITSO smartcards (such as c2c smart), Freedom Passes, TfL Staff cards, TfL family cards, paper tickets and more recently Contactless/Apple Pay/Android Pay (broken down if possible) per year?

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Our ref: FOI-2084-1718/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 30 October 2017 asking for information about Oyster generations.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

1) The first generation of cards are not compatible with the new TfL Oyster app - what is the technical limitation behind this?

Some 1^st Generation Oyster cards have been configured in a way which means that they will not be able to collect purchases made via the app.  In order to avoid customer inconvenience, we have therefore decided to exclude these older cards from being used in conjunction with the new TfL Oyster app.

2) How many other generations of oyster cards exist, and when were they introduced?

We stopped issuing 1^st Generation Oyster cards in 2010.  This is the only time that we have changed the chip on the Oyster card.

3) What are the technical differences between these generations?

The difference is in the size and security of the electronic chip used in the cards.

4) What plans exist for future Oyster generations?

There are no plans at present to change the current chip used in Oyster cards.

5) Since the introduction of Oyster, how many journeys made (as a percentage and real number) using Oyster have been with each generation, as well as ITSO smartcards (such as c2c smart), Freedom Passes, TfL Staff cards, TfL family cards, paper tickets and more recently Contactless/Apple Pay/Android Pay (broken down if possible) per year?

We do not have any data for Oyster journeys by generation of issue.  The way in which ITSO smartcard data is presented means that we do not have data on passenger journeys – this information is compiled by the issuer of the product on the card.  We are also not able to distinguish between different types of mobile phone used for contactless payments.  However, the information we do have on journeys by type of card/ticket is provided below.

TfL Journeys by Media Type (000s)
	Oyster	Paper	Freedom	Contactless	Total	Oyster	Paper	Freedom	Contactless
2003/04	125,501	2,158,017	308,114	0	2,591,632	5%	83%	12%	0%
2004/05	471,625	1,987,513	293,043	0	2,752,182	17%	72%	11%	0%
2005/06	910,510	1,566,462	293,896	0	2,770,869	33%	57%	11%	0%
2006/07	1,583,283	1,020,584	296,170	0	2,900,037	55%	35%	10%	0%
2007/08	2,038,267	851,897	324,805	0	3,214,969	63%	26%	10%	0%
2008/09	2,198,471	759,086	345,991	0	3,303,547	67%	23%	10%	0%
2009/10	2,083,618	847,716	362,797	0	3,294,132	63%	26%	11%	0%
2010/11	2,458,826	541,043	361,187	0	3,361,056	73%	16%	11%	0%
2011/12	2,601,001	465,444	376,541	0	3,442,987	76%	14%	11%	0%
2012/13	2,665,530	463,850	374,499	871	3,504,750	76%	13%	11%	0%
2013/14	2,715,495	473,622	397,811	9,953	3,596,881	75%	13%	11%	0%
2014/15	2,739,024	408,975	409,896	71,659	3,629,554	75%	11%	11%	2%
2015/16	2,566,377	370,419	409,031	258,852	3,604,680	71%	10%	11%	7%
2016/17	2,362,019	366,028	414,614	437,870	3,580,532	66%	10%	12%	12%

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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