Contactless technology rolled out for rail passengers at Luton area stations

Stations in the Luton area have been the latest to have contactless technology rolled out to enable tap-in tap-out travel for train services.

Luton, Leagrave and Harlington stations on the Thameslink route between London St Pancras and Bedford are among 50 stations on routes with train services to London that will have the technology enabled next month.

From 14 December, the service will be enabled at these three stations. Luton Airport Parkway station has previously had this service enabled.

Other routes that will have this enabled from the mid-December starting date include stations on the Chiltern lines from Aylesbury to London, Southern services to Dorking, Reigate and East Grinstead, Greater Anglia routes to Stansted and Southend, and stations on the Great Northern Thameslink line to Stevenage, Letchworth and Baldock.

The project is supported by £18.7 million in government funding, with support from Transport for London, as part of a project to roll out further contactless ticketing on the UK railways network, and the larger Great British Railways project enacted by the national government.

The government’s Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said, “Rail ticketing is far too complicated and long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. Through the expansion of tap in tap out technology, and shortly through GBR, we’re doing just that and making buying tickets more convenient, more accessible and more flexible – and ensuring passengers can get the best fares.

“As part of our Plan for Change, we’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the south-east, supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and homes.”

Tap-in tap-out ticketing allows passengers to use a bank card or contactless enabled device to enter any train station, instead of manually buying individual or return tickets. The government has already rolled out this technology at 53 additional stations across the south-east, with 5.6 million journeys taken since June 2024, and more stations to follow from 2026.

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL), said, “For more than ten years, the popularity of convenient travel via pay as you go with contactless has grown and become increasingly popular across London and the surrounding areas. We are delighted to be extending pay as you go with contactless to a further 50 stations from the 14 December, including Stansted Airport, making it easier for those arriving at the airport to travel to London and experience all the city has to offer.

“Expanding pay as you go with contactless will further help those travelling by rail outside London do so more flexibly and conveniently, avoid the need to pre-purchase tickets or paper Travelcards when heading into the capital, and support the wider UK economic recovery through easier access to rail travel.

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, added, “This is another important step in making it easier for customers to travel by train. Extending tap-in-tap-out to a further 50 stations will mean even more rail customers can benefit from this technology, knowing they will always pay the right fare at the right price. The rail industry is committed to working with government to improve and enhance the overall experience for our customers.”

Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer for Govia Thameslink Railway which runs Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink services, also said, “We’re pleased to be supporting this Government initiative to give our customers simple, easier journeys.”