From http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news.php?id=350

London TravelWatch, the watchdog for transport users in London and its surrounding areas, has warmly welcomed the decision to mandate the successful bidders of the South Western Franchise, due for renewal in 2007, to introduce pay-as-you-go Oyster cards and urges the Government to make it a requirement for all franchises in the London area.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, confirmed today at Transport Questions in the House of Commons that the availability of pay-as-you-go Oyster would form part of the invitation to tender, to be issued soon.

Brian Cooke, Chairman, London TravelWatch, said: "We are delighted that the Government have finally accepted what we have been saying all along: that it is vital for an integrated transport system that there is an integrated ticketing system. It is patently unfair that those people in areas not on the tube network could not benefit from the advantages that Oyster card brings. We hope that this means that it won't be long before every passenger of every train operator in the Greater London area is able to use pay-as-you-go Oyster."

SWT metro trains interchange with the Victoria Line, District Line and Tramlink. The reluctance of SWT's current owners (Stagecoach) to introduce the oyster PAYG system is no doubt down to the potential end of their franchise(2007).

Southern Trains however have announced Oyster PAYG trials on routes between Victoria and Balham "soon".

Why the hell does the Government have a say?! Its crazy it should be local authorities such as the London Mayor dishing out the franchises

Excellent news, the first step to full adoption of Oyster across Greater London & the South-east. There were horrible rumours circulating that Network Rail wanted their own SEPARATE smartcard system to Oyster... How divvy would that have been?

Good news, I wonder what Network Rail would have named their smart cards, Shrimp :dunno:

Haha! Yeah shrimp would have been an apt name! It's absolutely crazy that Network Rail even considered the adoption of a different smart card system. Personally I think all public transport in the UK should have a long term aim to adopt either the oyster card or a fully compatible smart card system that can be used on each others networks. It would be so incredibly useful if you could get on the Tyne and Wear Metro, get a main line service down to London and travel across London on the Underground just by using one card!

Again I think this is a case for the Mayor getting control of the inner and outer suburban railways. If network rail want to introduce their own card then great for hoping to city to city - but when so many use the London overground 'metro' railways in a manner similar to the Tube to get around London itself, I don't see the relevance of Network Rail in terms of ticketting (except obviously at termini where national services end!).

This is good news, all progressing towards a fully integrated network in London, its metro and further around.

Haha! Yeah shrimp would have been an apt name! It's absolutely crazy that Network Rail even considered the adoption of a different smart card system. Personally I think all public transport in the UK should have a long term aim to adopt either the oyster card or a fully compatible smart card system that can be used on each others networks. It would be so incredibly useful if you could get on the Tyne and Wear Metro, get a main line service down to London and travel across London on the Underground just by using one card!

:yes: i like the sound of that: "britain is your oyster"

Or, Travel by Sardine.