Passengers travelling between Gatwick Airport and London will soon be able to use pay as you go, rail minister Claire Perry has confirmed today.

The news follows an agreement between the government, Transport for London and the operator, Govia Thameslink Railway.

Pay as you go using Oyster and Contactless payments will be introduced as new methods of payment from January 2016 for journeys between London and Gatwick Airport on Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services.

Five other stations along the route - Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill and Merstham – will also benefit from the up-to-the-minute pay as you go ticket technology.

This will mean more convenience and flexibility for commuters and visitors alike, with improved value for money in many cases, and reduced crowding at stations.

It will also allow seamless onward connections to London’s transport network and National Rail services.

Perry said: “Our plan for passengers is to build a 21st century railway that provides better journeys for all, and improved ticketing is a vital part of that customer experience.

“This extension of Oyster and contactless embraces some of the latest technology, making journeys easier for customers, offering them a vastly more convenient option.

“As we undertake the biggest rail modernisation since the Victorian era, improving London to Gatwick by rail is another step to a modern railway that strengthens the economy.”