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Find out how to travel on Thameslink trains in London on a contactless debit or credit card

Contactless and mobile pay as you go travel

How and where you can use a contactless card or mobile device for adult rate pay as you go travel.

Important update about contactless fares at stations included in the recent extension of pay as you go with contactless

Following the launch of pay as you go with contactless to an additional 21 GTR stations on Sunday 14 December, we have identified a technical issue affecting a small number of contactless journeys on the Great Northern and Southern network.

You may be initially charged an incorrect fare for affected journeys. Any additional charges will be automatically refunded, backdated, and processed weekly. Refunds will typically be received by customers within 24 hours of issue. No action is required from customers. This issue only affects journeys made using contactless payment and does not impact paper tickets, Smartcard journeys, or eTickets. Daily and weekly capping remains in place and is unaffected by these issues.

TfL have begun issuing refunds for affected journeys as part of interim arrangements. Passengers can expect to begin seeing refunds applied to their accounts shortly, and refunds will continue to be processed on a weekly basis while the issue remains in place.

If you think you may have been overcharged, you can review up to seven days of journey history and charges by setting up an account on the TfL website, which also provides additional useful features. To check the charge applied against the correct fare, you can compare your journey details on National Rail Enquiries.

We are working with TfL on a permanent fix. However, changes to address this issue can only be implemented as part of a wider ‘Fare Setting Round’, with the next one scheduled for March 2026. In the meantime, we are ensuring that all fares data for pay as you go with contactless journeys is accurate and fully verified before release. Additional checks and testing will also be carried out to prevent this issue from recurring.

Passengers travelling from some stations may currently be undercharged when using pay as you go with contactless. You will not be asked to pay any extra for past or current journeys. From March onwards, fares will be charged at the correct rate.

We apologise for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. If you have any queries about refunds, you can contact TfL customer service team on 0343 222 1234 or visit their website.

Contactless overview

Pay as you go with a contactless card or mobile device means that you only pay for the journeys you make when you travel.

With contactless there is no need to top up or queue for train tickets at the station. Just touch your contactless card or mobile device on a yellow card reader to pay for your journey. You can use a contactless payment card or mobile device for adult-rate Standard Class travel on most National Rail services within London Zones 1-9 (and selected journeys beyond).

To check whether pay as you go is the best option for your journey, you can use the Single fare finder on the Transport for London website, and check National Rail for details of train ticket prices.

Simplified fares and more contactless stations have arrived 

  • Pay as you go with contactless uses a Single Peak and Off-Peak fare between two contactless stations. From Sunday 7th December, fares at 21 Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern stations have been simplified and in some cases has resulted in the withdrawal of tickets, such as Super-Off Peak. Simplified Off-Peak fares have been adjusted in price where certain ticket types have been withdrawn. Find out more here.
  • From 14 December 2025, you can now pay as you go with a contactless card or device at another 30 National Rail stations across the South East.

The stations on our network are:

Thameslink

  • Harlington
  • Leagrave
  • Luton

Great Northern

  • Baldock
  • Hitchin
  • Knebworth
  • Letchworth Garden City
  • Stevenage
  • Watton-at-Stone
  • Welwyn North

Southern

  • Ashtead
  • Box Hill & Westhumble
  • Dorking (Main)
  • Dormans
  • East Grinstead
  • Hurst Green
  • Leatherhead
  • Lingfield
  • Oxted
  • Reigate
  • Woldingam

Benefits 

  • Convenient travel: No need to buy a ticket in advance, queue at the station, or top up before you travel.
  • Flexibility: Seamlessly switch between trains, tube, DLR, trams and London Buses.
  • Ideal for changes: Perfect if your plans are uncertain or subject to change.
  • Daily and weekly caps: In London Zones 1-9, your pay as you go fare is capped so you can travel as much as you like in one day or week (Monday to Sunday), without paying more.
  • For some journeys that start outside the London Zones 1-9 area, capping is also available when you use pay as you go with contactless. Find out more at National Rail.

Where can I use Contactless? 

You can travel with contactless on most National Rail services in London Zones 1-9, as well as bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth Line services.

You can also use a contactless card or mobile device for Adult rate Standard Class travel for some journeys that go beyond London Zones 1-9.  

View the full Contactless network map

Things to remember 

  • Check before you travel: Always check pay as you go with contactless is accepted at your destination before you tap in, and if you're using a digital device it has enough battery for your entire journey. If you do not touch out because your device has run out of battery, this will show as an incomplete journey and you will be charged a maximum fare. If you do not have a valid ticket for your journey you may be liable for a penalty fare.

  • Use the same card or device: Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out to pay the right fare for your journey. For example, don't touch in with an iPhone and touch out with an Apple Watch or contactless card

  • Always touch in and out: At the start and end of your journey (even if the gates are open) tap your contactless card or mobile device on a yellow card reader to ensure you pay the right fare. When changing trains you may need to touch your contactless card or mobile device on a pink reader. (If you're travelling on a bus or tram you only have to touch in).

  • Payment timeframe: You will usually be charged for your pay as you go with contactless journey within 3 days.

  • Discounts: Contactless is based on Adult fares for Standard Class travel and it’s not possible to add a Railcard or any other discounts to your journey.

  • Child tickets: Discounts for child travel are not available with contactless. 
  • First Class: Contactless is not available for First Class.  
  • Register your card: You don’t have to create an account with TfL to use pay as you go with Contactless, but if you do, you will benefit from being able to view your full journey history (more than seven days), apply for refunds, and more.  

Frequently asked questions