Rail passengers in southeast England are facing significant fare increases following the expansion of contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing, with some off-peak services reclassified as peak-time journeys. The changes, which took effect on December 14 at 30 additional stations, align with Transport for London's fare structure.
Rebecca Paul, the Conservative MP for Reigate, warned that the revised rules risk 'pricing passengers out of rail altogether'. She noted that the first weekday Southern service from Reigate to London eligible for an off-peak day travelcard now departs at 9.28am, while the same 8.58am train can still be used with an off-peak ticket if boarded five minutes later at Redhill.
One passenger described the changes as 'ridiculous' and said they would cycle to Redhill instead of paying the higher fare. An anytime day travelcard from Reigate costs £37.10, compared to £20.60 for the off-peak version. The cheapest super off-peak tickets have also been removed from some stations.
Lobby group Railfuture claims contactless can cost up to twice as much as paper tickets on certain journeys, as railcard and child discounts cannot be applied. For example, a family travelling from Luton to central London could pay £84 using contactless, versus £41.70 with discounted paper tickets.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the train operator, defended the changes, stating that 'to introduce pay as you go with contactless, we have to align the way fares are structured with those of the wider TfL contactless system'. A spokesperson added that for many passengers, fares will fall, and the changes are not designed to increase revenue.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said contactless ticketing offers simpler, more flexible travel and that the majority of single tickets will be the same price or lower, with a 'best price promise' ensuring passengers get the best fare on the day of travel.
