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Southeastern to introduce smart cards

Southeastern is to introduce a smart card on all its trains - potentially making life easier for regular travellers.

Journeys from Kent into London and across other parts of the Southeastern network will be included in the £5.5m rollout of the smart cards.

Initially for season tickets only, they are hailed as an alternative to paper tickets, and will be introduced from December next year.

Adan stabbed the man on a train. Stock picture
Adan stabbed the man on a train. Stock picture

Work's now set to start to upgrade Southeastern's ticketing systems and equipment to allow passengers to use the cards across most of the network.

It's hoped the cards will help cut ticket office queues and allow travellers to move through the automatic ticket barriers more quickly, after buying their tickets online.

Users would tap their cards in and out at stations, like an Oyster Card, but unlike that system they would upload the season ticket - and not a pre-paid amount.

If lost, the card could be cancelled and a duplicate made.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: "As part of our long-term economic plan we are bringing our railways into the 21st century.

"We are making the biggest investment in rail since the Victorian era while taking advantage of technology like smart cards.

Southeastern managing director David Statham
Southeastern managing director David Statham

"Smart ticketing is a common sense innovation that makes life easier for passengers. It allows for more straight forward journeys and I’m delighted Southeastern will be rolling them out across much of their network."

David Statham, Southeastern's managing director, said he was pleased the train operator had agreed a deal with the Department for Transport.

He added: "These (smart cards) will allow our passengers to beat those Monday morning queues as they will make it much easier and quicker for passengers to buy weekly, monthly or annual season tickets online and load on to their smart card before setting off on their journey."

Southeastern is the latest operator to sign up to the government’s £80 million South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) programme.


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