Oyster deal lights touchpaper for new tech makeover

Transport for London's (TfL) decision to switch suppliers for its Oyster smartcard public transport system will smooth the way for the next generation of ticketing, a Tube boss has predicted.

The MD of London Underground Tim O'Toole said the ability to use near field communication-enabled phones and other next-gen ticketing tech on London's public transport will be enabled by the new deal.

Last year TfL decided to terminate its contract with Oyster manager, the TranSys consortium. The TranSys consortium will continue to operate and deliver for the next two years.

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Cubic Transportation Systems and EDS - which were part of the TranSys consortium - will take over the "future management and development of the Oyster card system and other ticketing services" from 2010.

O'Toole told silicon.com: "It offers a better deal for passengers.

"The problem with the prior contractual arrangement was that once we had made the jump to Oyster and it was up and running there was little incentive to jump to next-generation electronic ticketing like near field communications.

"The new contractual structure will allow for great flexibility and more changes.

"As the market evolves we want to make sure that we are part of that and it is about putting a system in place that allows for that to happen."

There are now six million Oyster cards in use and TfL says the Oyster system could play a part at the London 2012 Olympics.

A spokesman for the TranSys consortium said: "The London transport system has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. For the benefit of all stakeholders, contract negotiations took place last year between TranSys and TfL."