Oyster cards could be coming to smartphones under a new deal with Transport for London (TfL). The deal, awarded to Spain's Indra Group, marks a significant shift in the way London's public transport system operates. With a seven-year contract, Indra will replace the USA-based Cubic, who has managed the Oyster card system since its inception in 2003.
The transition, which was initially challenged by Cubic in court, has now been finalized. The court ruled in favor of TfL's decision to switch suppliers, considering the potential long-term harm to passengers if the contract handover was delayed. This ruling allowed TfL to sign the Project Proteus contract with Indra.
Indra's role extends beyond maintaining the system; they will modernize it, focusing on an overhaul of the 20-year-old Oyster system. This modernization includes introducing account-based ticketing, allowing for fare calculations post-travel to ensure passengers pay the lowest possible fare. This shift also opens the possibility of loading Oyster cards onto smartphones, eliminating the need for physical plastic cards.
Over the contract's duration, Indra will collaborate with TfL and key partners, including the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Greater London Authority (GLA), to enhance contactless ticketing. TfL is already expanding pay-as-you-go contactless travel in the South East, adding 30 stations last year and another 20 in 2026.
In the short term, Indra will work alongside Cubic Transport Systems to ensure a seamless transition. Shashi Verma, Director of Technology Strategy and Revenue at TfL, expressed his gratitude to Cubic for their contributions and highlighted the importance of customer trust in the ticketing system. He also emphasized the excitement of collaborating with Indra on the next phase of the Oyster and contactless ticketing system's evolution.
