Transport for London has shelved plans to allow users of
its Oyster smartcards to buy goods and services at outlets not
directly related to the transport network.
Before setting up the widely used Oyster travelcard scheme,
Transport for London said it was planning to allow users to buy
small value items with their Oyster cards, including parking
tickets, fast food and groceries from certain supermarkets.
Last year, London’s main transport organisation also advertised
in the OJEU European major contracts journal for a partner to help
get the extended scheme off the ground.
After drawing up a shortlist of partners as a result of the
advert, it has now informed those companies involved that it has
put the plan on ice, with no timetable set for a future
deployment.
Other major smartcard schemes launched in the UK have also
looked to extend their card’s use across other outlets to maximise
their value for users and thus increase uptake. In most cases, the
stumbling block has been getting a secure payments systems off the
ground that has the support of third-party retailers.
