Pay As You Go with Contactless | National Rail (2024)

About pay as you go with contactless

You can use a contactless card or device to pay as you go on National Rail, London Underground, DLR, London Buses and London tram services within London and at an increasing number of stations across the South East.

Just touch your card or device on a card reader at the start of your journey and touch out with the same card or device at the end of your journey.

Find out where you can use pay as you go with contactless on the pay as you go with contactless map.

Travelling using pay as you go with contactless

When using pay as you go with contactless, remember to:

Always check pay as you go with contactless is available at your destination

Before you touch in at the start of your journey, make sure that pay as you go with contactless is available at your destination. If you do not touch out, this will show as an incomplete journey, and you will be charged a maximum fare of up to £29.

If you do not have a valid ticket for your whole journey, you may be liable to pay a full fare or Penalty Fare.

Always touch in and out

Touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end of your journey to pay the correct adult fare, even if the ticket gates are open.

If you don’t touch in and out on each journey you make, we won’t know where you have travelled, so we can’t charge the right fare. If this happens your journey will be incomplete, and you could be charged a maximum fare.

On a London bus or tram you only need to touch in.

Use the same card or device to touch in and out

Remember to touch out with the same card or device as you touched in with. If you use a different contactless card or device, we won’t be able to calculate the best fare for you.

For example, if you touch in with a physical card and touch out with a device, this will show as 2 incomplete journeys, meaning you’ll be charged the maximum fare for each journey.

Only touch 1 card or device on the reader

Check you have enough battery on your device

If you are paying with a contactless mobile device, make sure you have enough battery to complete your 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 the maximum fare.

Show your contactless card or device for inspection

You will need to show your contactless card or device for inspection when asked to do so by a member of staff. Simply touch your card or device on the reader when asked.

Pay as you go with contactless pricing

When you use pay as you go with contactless, you’ll be charged the best adult fare for your journey on the day and time of your travel. For most people, this fare is the same as a ticket bought on the day. If you make multiple journeys into or within London, you could also benefit from daily and Monday to Sunday capping.

Pay as you go with contactless may not always be the cheapest way to pay for your journey. For example:

• If you have a Railcard or are eligible for other discounts (like a Child discount), it may be cheaper to buy a ticket for your journey. Currently discounts cannot be applied to pay as you go with contactless

• If you make the same journey regularly, buying a Season ticket (weekly, monthly, annual or Flexi Season) may be better value

• In some cases, you may find a cheaper fare if you book your ticket in advance of your journey

Find out more about pay as you go with contactless fares(external link, opens in a new tab).

Find out if you could save with a Season ticket.

Contactless cards and devices

All major credit and debit cards are accepted by card readers.

If your UK-issued bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go at an adult rate. You can also pay as you go with contactless devices such as phones, watches, key fobs, stickers and wristbands that have been linked to a valid debit or credit card. Many contactless cards issued outside the UK can be used to pay as you go (overseas transaction fees may apply).

Find out more about contactless payment methods valid across the National Rail and Transport for London pay as you go with contactless area on the TfL website(external link, opens in a new tab).

Capping with contactless

Use the same contactless card or device for every journey, and you could benefit from daily and Monday to Sunday capping.

Capping limits how much you pay for all your journeys. When your pay as you go with contactless journeys into and within London add up to a certain amount in a day or week (Monday to Sunday), you won't be charged anymore.

A pay as you go with contactless daily cap is calculated over 24 hours, starting at 04:30 and ending at 04:29 the next day.

If you use the same contactless card or device to pay for all your journeys throughout the week, you will also be eligible for a Monday to Sunday cap. For maximum benefit, start using your contactless card or device on a Monday.

Your pay as you go with contactless fare is capped at either a peak rate, off-peak rate or a Monday to Sunday rate. Remember to continue to touch in and out for every journey you make.

Depending on how often you travel and where you’re travelling to, it may be better value to buy a Season ticket (weekly, monthly, annual or Flexi Season).

Please note, capping is not available for pay as you go with contactless journeys that don't include travel in London Zones 1 to 9.

Customer services for pay as you go with contactless

If you have any questions about your journey on National Rail services, please contact the train company you are travelling with.

If you need help with pay as you go with contactless payments, need to view your journey history, or want to apply for a refund on a pay as you go with contactless payment, please contact Transport for London (TfL) via:

• contactless.tfl.gov.uk/(external link, opens in a new tab)

• Telephone: 0343 222 1234