After our long fought and successful campaign, contactless ticketing for six of our local station will begin from 22nd September.
This will mean when boarding and alighting at Sevenoaks, Bat and Ball, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Otford, Sevenoaks and Shoreham, passengers will no longer need to queue to purchase tickets, nor buy online in advance. And, it will ensure easy switching between National Rail train services, London Underground, London buses and London trams that already accept contactless.
Many residents have been supportive of the campaign since 2019 and I am delighted that we have worked together to deliver it.
Contrary to comment made to the Sevenoaks Chronicle last week, my understanding is that passengers who travel through London Zones 1-9 will benefit from daily and Monday to Sunday caps on journeys. However, I have raised this point with Southeastern for clarification, and will disseminate their response via my Facebook page and newsletter as soon as I have an update.
I remain perturbed that TfL, who operate the contactless software, were unable to ensure it was up and running in time for the fare structure change that came into place last December. I made my dissatisfaction known. Now that Contactless is about to commence, it is vital that as soon as possible it must include the ability to take into account discounted fares through railcards, to ensure all passengers obtain maximum benefit. I have therefore written to both TfL and the Department for Transport, asking that as a matter of urgency the technology is updated to enable this to happen.
With our proximity to London, and so many of us travelling to London either for work or pleasure, the railway service is absolutely vital, and must be the best it can.
I fought hard for the fast-line service from Otford and for increases to its rush hour service, and I will certainly do all I can to make sure that the convenience benefits of contactless are available to all travellers. It is the very least commuters deserve.
