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DfT reject plans to extend Oyster card scheme to St Albans
9 Jan 2012

The Department for Transport (DfT) has rejected plans to extend the Oyster card scheme to St Albans, it has been revealed.

Train operating company First Capital Connect (FCC) was hoping to introduce the transit card programme to the Hertfordshire city but the government has quashed these plans as it wants to focus on ITSO smart card technology, reports St Albans Review.

ITSO is a non-profit organisation which aims to develop a smart ticketing system which could be deployed across the UK, allowing Britons to use the same smart card to pay for travel at all stations across the UK.
 
A spokesman for FCC claimed the use of Oyster cards in St Albans would have been of "major benefit" to passengers.

"However we recognise the additional benefits that nationally-accepted ITSO-compliant cards will bring to integrated travel," he told the news provider.

"FCC is fully committed to introducing this technology for the benefit of customers as early as possible."