Commuter joy with Oyster card set to come to Dartford and Swanley

Southeastern and Transport for London made an agreement on September 11, with the Oyster card system set to be in place by December 2016.

Commuters travelling to and from London have been frustrated in recent years as they are only able to use Oyster cards for part of their journey.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said a more joined up approach will make life much easier.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson at Dartford station

He told News Shopper: "Dartford commuters have been without Oyster services for too long.

"I have had constituents getting in touch with me asking if it can be brought into the area for years. It should make things a lot easier.

"Before it was one system from Dartford and another once you're on the underground. 

"And it's always been an anomaly that we could use the Oyster cards on buses in Dartford but not trains.  

"If they don't want to use Oyster people can still use the old system. I cannot see a downside to it."

Shashi Verma, Transport for London's director of customer experience, said: "We will be working with the Department for Transport and Southeastern on their commitment to introduce Oyster to Dartford and Swanley.

"We look forward to seeing it extended further.”

A spokesman for Southeastern added: "We are working with TfL to introduce Oyster to Swanley by 2016.

"This forms part of our Direct Award contract signed off by the Department for Transport last week."

What the public thinks

Andrew Dellow, 52, runs the Darling Buds of Kent flower shop in Chastilian Road and takes the train to the capital once or twice a month. 

He said: "For people working in London I think it’s a great idea. 

"There’s not a lot in Dartford to bring people here but this should have a positive effect. 

"It will save on queuing and things like that." 

Pat Katnoria, 65, Barham Road, Dartford, retired, said: "I think it’s a brilliant idea, a really good thing for Dartford. 

"The only thing I think is bad about the scheme is when people don’t have enough money on the bus and they can’t pay in cash anymore. 

"I paid for a lady on the bus recently because she tried to get on with her baby but had run out of money."

Community worker Darren Riley, 40, lives in Butcher Walk, Swanscombe.

He said: "I would welcome it with open arms. It would be very useful and could only bring more people in. 

"Dartford is suffering at the moment and a lot of people are leaving town but if more people could get in by means other than buses that can only have a positive effect."