SWT stands firm on Oyster decision (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

South West Trains stands firm on decision not to offer Oyster services at stations

1:00pm Thursday 14th October 2010 in News By Joanna Kilvington

No plans: South West Trains stands firm on decision not to offer Oyster services at stations

South West Trains (SWT) has signalled it still has no plans to offer Oyster services at stations - despite mounting pressure from politicians and passengers.

SWT, which runs services at the borough’s 12 train stations, is the only train operating company in the capital which does not offer Oyster facilities.

And it appears commuters are still no closer to being able to buy or top up Oyster cards after SWT reiterated it had no plans to offer the service to passengers.

The news angered commuters at Twickenham station this week.

David Green, 24, of Craneford Way, Twickenham said: “It’s ridiculous that you are unable to top up your Oyster at Twickenham station.

“It is extremely inconvenient for those living here.

“And what about the thousands who visit Twickenham for the rugby and music concerts. It must be a nightmare.”

Kingston Council worker Alex Bird, 27, from Surbiton, added the lack of facility meant people travelling into the capital were placed at a disadvantage.

She said: “It’s annoying. You get to the station and get caught out.

“It’s ok for those travelling out of London but not for people travelling in.”

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, urged the company to remedy the situation.

She said: “It is time SWT caught up with the other train operating companies in London and provided a proper service to their customers.”

Oyster pay-as-you-go was rolled out to train stations across London at the beginning of the year - but passengers using SWT stations must still purchase their Oyster cards or top up their credit at the nearest newsagent. They are also unable to check their credit or travel history.

Ms Pidgeon, deputy chairwoman of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has written to Brian Souter, chief executive of Stagecoach Group, which owns SWT, urging him to ensure passengers here receive the same service as passengers in every other part of the capital.

She wrote: “In many respects you customers are being denied the full benefits and convenience that Oyster can provide.”

A spokeswoman for SWT said providing the topping up service via ticket machines was not a part of the specifications set up by the Department for Transport for their franchise.

She said customers with Oyster cards could top them up via a link to the Transport for London website via southwesttrains.co.uk.

She added: "Additionally, at each station and on our website, we advertise the three nearest Oyster pay-as-you-go top up agents to the individual stations and all are within 250m of the station.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “South West Trains ticket machines are built to accept Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation (ITSO) cards because the company did not believe there was a business case to introduce Oyster on its ticket machines.

“We continue to sponsor ITSO card roll out nationally and are funding a project to make London fully compatible with the ITSO standard – that’s because smart ticketing across England could deliver benefits of as much as £1 billion per year through improved journey times and faster, more convenient and reliable purchasing and use of tickets.”