Oyster and contactless at London ticket gates
Use the same payment token and understand when to touch out.
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Read TfL's current Oyster and contactless guidance before travelling. Keep the card or device accessible and separate from other contactless cards to avoid card clash.
On rail journeys
Use the same card or device to touch in and out. A phone and its linked physical bank card are not the same payment token. Check routes that extend outside the normal payment area rather than assuming coverage.
On buses
Follow TfL's bus payment instructions: touch in when boarding, with no ordinary touch-out. Check arrangements for your specific journey if it combines operators or services.
Review charges
Keep journey information and review any incomplete or unexpected charge using the official account or help route. Do not give card details to a stranger offering a refund through an unfamiliar link.
Travel with others
Check what each traveller needs, including age-related arrangements and concessions. Do not assume one payment token can pay ordinary rail journeys for an entire group.
Sources and useful links
tfl.gov.uk — guidance and information ↗tfl.gov.uk — guidance and information ↗Editorial edition: 4 October 2026. Historical research preserves the distinction between evidence, interpretation and folklore. For visits and administrative decisions, check current arrangements with the original organisation.
PARTNER LINKS
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