Stansted Airport contactless rail plans halted at last minute

Plans to expand contactless payment to Stansted Airport has been halted days before it was due to go live.

Issues with the software being used as part of Project Oval – contracted out to TfL – have seen implantation delayed until summer next year.

Project Oval has been running late and is not without controversy. It’s sold as fare simplification though some fares are higher than existing ticket costs.

In addition railcards cannot be applied to contactless payments ensuring the need for paper or etickets will remain.

Stansted is not the only station impacted, with 20 stations in total operated by Greater Anglia being delayed until Summer 2026. Southend Airport is also impacted.

On the bright side 30 stations will go live on 14 December including those on Thameslink and Southern. If you’re someone who travels from, say, Woolwich to Luton, then your luck is in.

The full list is:

Southern 

• Ashtead
• Box Hill & Westhumble
• Dorking (Main)
• Dormans
• East Grinstead
• Hurst Green
• Leatherhead
• Lingfield
• Oxted
• Reigate
• Woldingam

Thameslink  

• Harlington
• Leagrave
• Luton

Chiltern Railway

• Aylesbury
• Aylesbury Vale Parkway
• Great Missenden
• Little Kimble
• Monks Risborough
• Princes Risborough
• Saunderton
• Stoke Mandeville
• Wendover

Great Northern

• Baldock
• Hitchin
• Knebworth
• Letchworth Garden City
• Stevenage
• Watton-at-Stone
• Welwyn North

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, said:

“We understand how frustrating it is when improvements like this are delayed, and I am very sorry for the disappointment this will cause some of our customers. It is essential, however, that contactless ticketing works reliably from day one.

“Our teams are working closely with our partners to complete this work as quickly as possible, and we remain committed to introducing contactless ticketing across these additional stations by summer 2026.”