Contactless Payments Extend To London’s Tube

It’s taken just four short months for Transport for London’s (TfL’s) contactless card reader system for London busses to prove a success.

Earlier this month, we learned that over one million bus journeys were paid for using the new contactless payment. Now, it appears the TfL has taken note, and is hinting that not only might London buses be expected to go completely contactless by the end of 2013, but that plans to extend the technology to the city’s metro system, the Tube, are in the works as well.

According to Digital Journal, fewer travelers are fumbling around for loose change, with only one percent using cash to pay for bus journeys. The TfL argued that it costs £30 million per year to sustain a system that accepts cash. The process is costly and it also delays travel time. Long lines of impatient commuters wait to board the bus because of customers paying in cash. It takes the bus driver some time to collect the cash, sort the money, and even longer if they need to provide change.

The TsF’s aim is to make the customer’s life easier by extending the effective payment system for people traveling on the Tube that is both simple and quick. While it is assumed that many will appreciate the contactless technology roll out, there may be others who will not be as keen to completely eliminate cash payment throughout London’s transport.

There are a few buses that run over night, referred to as the night bus in the UK. Many students and young adults rely on the night bus for travel after a night out. Many of these passengers are still using cash to pay for their ticket. There are also those caught in emergency situations and tourists who are likely to prefer cash payments when riding the buses or Tube.

The Mayor of London will make the final decision, but the Labor Party remains an ardent supporter, pushing TfL to revoke cash payments entirely.

The Digital Journal reports, Valerie, Shawcross, a London assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark, argued back, “There may not be many occasions on which you need to pay in cash, but actualy they could be crucial and I think Transport for London should think again about taking this facility away, especially on the night buses.”

To read the full story at Digital Journal click here.