OLYMPICS DESK
London's 2012 intentions to be the first "cashless Olympics" has been dealt a severe blow following the decision by Mayor Johnson to terminate the contract of the consortium that has run the Oyster card for the last ten years Transys.
The organisers of the 2012 games had hoped for the Oyster system to allow visitors to the games to pay for travel and entry to events without having to use cash. With the decision of TfL to terminate Transys contract The Observer journalist Gaby Hinsliff in a report has said insiders within the "card scheme industry" have said "the decision by Transport for London to break the contract from August 2010 would leave any future supplier with little chance of synchronising the technology in time."
The termination of the Transys contract follows the shut down of the Oyster system which occurred twice in one month costing TfL £1million in lost fares. To date no other companies have been shortlisted for the procurement process to replace Transys in 2010 when their tenure ends.
Transport for London in a statement issued to the FT said:
"The mayor is keen to improve the Oyster card to make it even more attractive for Londoners and TfL will work to make sure this happens both quickly and in a way that represents the best value".
'We have had lots of negotiations with the Olympic Delivery Authority. When they settle down and figure out what kind of ticketing system they want, we will figure out what we need to do. But in some way shape or form Oyster is going to be used", Shashi Varma of TfL.
A TfL spokesman commenting on recent reports stated to the London Daily News "the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) have not yet confirmed the ticketing plans for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."
photo credit: Transys Press Room
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