TfL's new app lets you top up your Oyster card with your mobile
Dragging itself kicking and screaming into 2017, Transport for London's (TfL) Oyster card is finally set to benefit from a mobile app that allows for top-ups from a smartphone.
A new Oyster app is scheduled for release for iOS and Android in August. It will supplement changes to the Oyster system that mean online credit purchases can be collected from any station rather than a nominated one, and will be available in 30 minutes rather than 24 hours. The sped-up processing will be welcomed, but the Oyster card app is likely to generate more interest.
At the moment, online credit and Travelcard purchases can be collected from any Tube or rail station, tram stop or River Bus pier, TfL will expand this to include all London buses. The planned TfL app, however, will make things even easier and quicker for travellers.
The free app will not only make it possible to top up Oyster cards from a phone, but also check credit levels and receive low balance warnings.
TfL makes a few points about the upcoming app and system changes:
- Once launched, further functions will be added to the TfL app throughout 2017, including making it quicker and easier to apply for refunds for incomplete journeys, as well as viewing journey history for Contactless payments in Spring 2018.
- In order to use the new TfL app, customers will need to have an Oyster online account. Customers with a first-generation Oyster card, which were predominantly issued prior to 2010, will also need to upgrade their Oyster card to one which has a "D" in the bottom left hand corner on the back of the card. For more information about this, please visit -- tfl.gov.uk/first-generation-oyster.
- TfL is currently contacting regular Oyster card users with a first-generation card through Oyster online to encourage them to upgrade their card prior to the release of the new TfL app.
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