Oyster card facts for kids
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within London. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, trams, some river boat services and most National Rail services within the London Fare Zones. More importantly, it is very similar to Travelcard, a branch from the original London's e-payment cards.
A standard Oyster card is a blue credit card-sized stored value card which can hold a variety of single tickets, period tickets and travel permits which must be added to the card prior to travel. It is also a contactless smartcard which passengers must touch onto an electronic reader when entering and leaving the transport system in order to validate it or deduct funds. The cards may be "recharged" in person from numerous sales points, by recurring payment authority or by online purchase. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at ticket offices and the number of single paper tickets sold on the London transport network. Use is encouraged by offering substantially cheaper fares on Oyster than payment with cash.
The card was first issued to the public in July 2003 with a limited range of features and there continues to be a phased introduction of further functions. By June 2010, over 34 million Oyster cards had been issued and more than 80% of all journeys on services run by Transport for London used the Oyster card.
Images for kids
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A damaged Oyster card, revealing the microchip in the lower right corner and the aerial running around the perimeter of the card.
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The back of a second generation card
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The back of a first-generation Oyster card
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Oyster card vending machine, installed at London Bridge station in December 2006. All machines of this design have been phased out.
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Oyster Travel Statement
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Oyster card readers on London Underground ticket barriers at Canary Wharf.
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Oyster card top-up machine at Emirates Royal Docks
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London Underground ticket barriers with yellow Oyster readers
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Oyster validators are placed at most entrances on London buses.
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An Oyster validator at a tram stop
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A Thames Clipper river bus service
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An Oyster card reader at a riverbus pier
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National Rail ticket barriers with yellow Oyster readers
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Standalone Oyster readers provided at interchange stations between National Rail and the Tube
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The OnePulse card
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Until January 2010, many rail operators did not accept Oyster PAYG and posted warning notices inside their stations.
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The growing PAYG rail network 2006–08: more stations added
See also
In Spanish: Oyster card para niños
