Can I use a discount with contactless pay as you go?

Currently contactless pay as you go is only available for non-discounted adult fares. Railcard holders and children need to use a Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket to get their discounts.

Can I claim Delay Repay with contactless pay as you go?

Delay Repay is available for customers using contactless. Customers will need to provide a statement from TfL showing the GWR journey they are claiming for. The best way to do this is to set up an online TfL account and check your journey.

Can I use contactless pay as you go in First Class?

Contactless pay as you go is only available in Standard. For First Class , you’ll need to use your Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket before you travel.

Can I use any train between London and Reading with contactless pay as you go?

You can use contactless pay as you go on GWR and Elizabeth Line services, and the fares charged are the same. Contactless is not valid on South Western Rail (SWR) services between Feltham and Reading.

Can I travel between Waterloo and Reading on SWR services with contactless pay as you go?

No. Contactless pay as you go isn’t valid between Feltham and Reading . If you want to travel on this route, you’ll need to use your Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket before you travel.

When do Peak and Off-Peak fares apply on contactless pay as you go?

Peak fares are usually charged for journeys that start between 06:30 and 09:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00. If you start your journey at a station between Reading and Iver (inclusive) and travel east towards London, you'll pay the Off-Peak pay as you go fare all day after 09:30. There is no afternoon peak period for these journeys. Peak pay as you go fares do not apply at weekends or on public holidays.

Who should I contact if I have a problem with contactless pay as you go?

Contactless pay as you go is managed by Transport for London (TfL). You can contact TfL by phone on 0343 222 1234 ( charges may apply ). For other ways to contact TfL, visit the TfL website .

Contactless and Oyster pay as you go

Contactless pay as you go can now be used on both GWR and Elizabeth Line services between Reading and London Paddington.

You no longer need to top up or queue for tickets at the station.

You can:

use your contactless debit or credit card, or mobile device, to pay for journeys by touching in and out
use a Transport for London (TfL) Oyster card for pay as you go travel; fares and daily caps are the same, but Oyster is not available between Reading and West Drayton

Always remember to touch in and out. Visit the TfL website to register and find out more.

Please note:

as contactless pay as you go is based on single fares, it may not always be the cheapest way to pay for a journey
contactless pay as you go is not available at Reading West and Reading Green Park stations

Find out more about pay as you go fares

Fare capping

Fare caps limit the total amount you pay for all the journeys you make in a day or week.

Start using your contactless payment card on a Monday for maximum benefit. Although you can buy a paper season ticket to start on any day of the week, capping always calculates your travel week from a Monday and finishes on the following Sunday.

For many journeys, particularly those only going as far as Paddington, it may be cheaper to buy a paper season ticket rather than use Weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping. Find out more about fare capping

For journeys involving stations Reading through to Iver, capping levels are the same as the paper Travelcard fares to London Zones 1 to 6 for Anytime Day (Peak), Off-Peak Day and Weekly Season tickets. Details of these caps can be found on the TfL website.

Stations beyond Zone 6

Contactless pay as you go is available on the GWR network beyond London Zone 6 to the following stations:

Oyster cards and Freedom Passes

Please note:

all Oyster products (including Oyster pay as you go, Season tickets on Oyster cards, Children’s ZIP Oyster cards, 60+ London Oyster photocards and Veterans Oyster photocards) are not valid to these stations
London Freedom Passes are valid on Elizabeth Line services ONLY to these stations. They are not valid on GWR services between West Drayton and Reading
under 11s travel free on Elizabeth Line services in this area when accompanied by an adult. This doesn’t apply on GWR services

Good to know

Card clash

If you use your contactless card when it’s in the same wallet or purse as other cards, you may pay with a card you did not intend to use. It’s a good idea to separate the card or device you want to use from your other cards.

Always touch in and out at the start and end of your journey, even if the gates are open. If you change trains, you may need to touch your card on a pink reader.

If you're travelling by bus or tram, you only need to touch in.

Contactless payments with Google, Apple and Android pay

Frequently asked questions

Currently contactless pay as you go is only available for non-discounted adult fares. Railcard holders and children need to use a Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket to get their discounts.
Delay Repay is available for customers using contactless. Customers will need to provide a statement from TfL showing the GWR journey they are claiming for.

The best way to do this is to set up an online TfL account and check your journey.
Contactless pay as you go is only available in Standard. For First Class, you’ll need to use your Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket before you travel.
You can use contactless pay as you go on GWR and Elizabeth Line services, and the fares charged are the same.

Contactless is not valid on South Western Rail (SWR) services between Feltham and Reading.
No. Contactless pay as you go isn’t valid between Feltham and Reading.

If you want to travel on this route, you’ll need to use your Touch Smartcard or buy a paper ticket before you travel.
Peak fares are usually charged for journeys that start between 06:30 and 09:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00.

If you start your journey at a station between Reading and Iver (inclusive) and travel east towards London, you'll pay the Off-Peak pay as you go fare all day after 09:30. There is no afternoon peak period for these journeys.

Peak pay as you go fares do not apply at weekends or on public holidays.
Contactless pay as you go is managed by Transport for London (TfL).

You can contact TfL by phone on 0343 222 1234 (charges may apply).

For other ways to contact TfL, visit the TfL website.