Contactless readers active at Brookmans Park Station

But Oyster cards can’t be used on the new machines

Contactless pay-as-you-go reader at Brookmans Park station - 29 August 2019
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Rail travellers using Brookmans Park station can now use the new pay-as-you-go contactless readers on National Rail services between Brookmans Park and London.

But Transport for London (TfL) is stressing that Oyster cards can't be used.

Contactless pay-as-you-go readers are either side of the path to the platforms
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Oyster cards can't be used on the readers

The contactless readers have a notice reminding rail travellers that “Oyster cards are not valid at this station”.

In June there was confusion after the local MP, Grant Shapps, now Secretary of State for Transport, incorrectly claimed that “rail travellers in Welwyn Hatfield will finally be able to use Oyster”.

This site clarified matters when it confirmed that Oyster was NOT coming to Welwyn Hatfield.

However Shapps tweeted a link to an article on his website published on 29 August where he claims that “Contactless ‘Oyster’ payments reach first Welwyn Hatfield station”.

Delighted to announce contactless ‘Oyster’ has now reached its first Welwyn Hatfield station + will reach all stations to WGC by end of 2019. This exciting news means it’ll be easier than ever to take the train + new system provides weekly caps on fares: https://t.co/MtBnffsdzY

— Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) August 30, 2019

Just to be clear, for anyone confused by the Secretary of State's tweet and article, Oyster cards can not be used on the new contactless pay-as-you-go reader at Brookmans Park.

Sign says “Oyster cards are not valid at this station”
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Great Northern has put a poster near the ticket machine at Brookmans Park station clarifying that Oyster is not valid at the station. If you look under the image of the Oyster card you will see a list of four red crosses, meaning they can't be used.

Sign at Brookmans Park station saying Oyster is not valid

Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Touch in and touch out using the same card

Card readers have been positioned either side of the path from the ticket office to the platforms.

TfL is reminding travellers to touch in at the start and touch out at the end of their journeys, using the same card.

Details about the use of contactless at Brookmans Park can be found on the Great Northern website.

Transport for London has set out the fares beyond zone 9.

Contactless pay-as-you-go readers are expected to be installed at Welham Green station as part of the roll-out.

For those who are wondering what the small blue and yellow reader is, it's the Govia Thameslink Smart Card contactless reader.

Fares using contactless

You can check the fares charged if you use contactless from Brookmans Park by visiting the TfL single fare finder. You can then check these against the National Rail prices for paper tickets.

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