Rail passengers will be able to use their pay-as-you-go Oyster cards to travel from London to Gatwick airport from January 2016.
The Department of Transport announced the move today (November 10) following a deal between Transport for London and rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs the Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services.
The contract will also mean that rail users will be able to use other forms of contactless payment when travelling between London and Gatwick. Oyster cards will also be accepted at five stations on the route to Gatwick: Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill and Merstham.
Rail minister Claire Perry said: “This extension of Oyster and contactless embraces some of the latest technology, making journeys easier for customers, offering them a vastly more convenient option.”
London mayor Boris Johnson added: “By providing a quick and easy way to pay, our Oyster and contactless ticketing has transformed the way people get around our capital.
“We’ve already extended this on a number of key routes outside of London and it makes perfect sense for Londoners, commuters and passengers from around the world to benefit from this further link to Gatwick.”
From January, customers using pay-as-you-go Oyster cards on Southern and Thameslink services from central London to Gatwick will pay £14 in rush hour or £8 off-peak. The current peak paper ticket single fare is £15.40.
Gatwick Express single fares will be £19.80 on pay-as-you-go, compared to £19.90 when purchased at Gatwick or Victoria rail stations.
Gatwick chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson said: “Gatwick’s passengers will welcome the introduction of Oyster and contactless payments at the airport as the most convenient way to pay for onward rail travel to London.
“It means a single ticketless system will link Gatwick with the whole of Greater London so passengers can benefit from seamless connections to and throughout the capital.”