Barclaycard To Add Oyster Transit Payments To Visa Cards

Since its introduction in 2003, Transport for London (TfL) has seen Oyster smartcards become a huge success with more than six million in use on the transport network. A new deal has now been struck that will make future travel with Oyster even more convenient.

The deal, approved by TfL, between Barclaycard and Transys, the consortium behind the Oyster smartcard system, will see development of a new card to place Oyster and Barclaycard Visa on one piece of plastic.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'Oyster has been a great success making journeys across London cheaper, easier and quicker, but we want to make Oyster even more convenient.

'This new deal will mean that from next year people can buy low-cost items and take advantage of Oyster fares on the same card, reducing the need to carry cash.'

Oyster enables passengers to beat the queues by buying online. Passengers who switch to Oyster pay-as you go will save money as Oyster fares are always less than the cash fare.

The new Barclaycard will have three separate functions:

• Standard Chip and PIN credit card facility
• New Visa 'wave and pay' technology for contactless payments up to the value of £10
• Oyster

Jay Walder, TfL's Managing Director for Finance & Planning, said: 'Bringing together Oyster with the Visa 'wave and pay' function on a single card will allow customers to pay for low cost items such as coffee and newspapers quickly and securely while getting from A to B throughout London.'

Following a trial in February 2007, it is expected the first Barclaycards to include Oyster will be available from mid-2007. The deal gives exclusive rights for Oyster to be placed on Barclaycard Visa and Barclays Visa Connect cards for the next three years.