Be still our beating hearts. Not only is TfL giving us a whole new train line to play with this month, in the form of the Elizabeth line, it's giving us the matching Oyster cards too.
These limited edition beauties are printed with the pattern of the purple Elizabeth line moquette — a Pantone that's becoming increasingly familiar — set slightly askew, as befits the edgy new kid in town.
Cool, cool... but *jumps up and down* how can you get one?
When the Elizabeth line launches on 24 May, these special Oyster cards will be available from ticket machines at the new Elizabeth line stations, all Zone 1 tube stations and Heathrow stations and from Oyster Ticket Stops across Zone 1. As with all new Oysters, it'll cost you a fiver plus any credit you choose to add — well worth it, we reckon.
1.2m of them will be made available, which sounds like a lot, but we reckon they'll be in high demand. Previously, limited edition Oyster cards have been produced for the likes of the London 2012 Olympics and the 2011 Royal Wedding, and anyone who collected those will likely be looking to complete the set.
Shashi Verma, TfL's Chief Technology Officer and Director of Strategy, said:
We are delighted to celebrate the brand new line coming to London and this moquette-inspired Oyster card is a wonderful way to commemorate the first new railway line through London in a generation.
Worth noting that journeys using pay as you go with Oyster can't be used on Elizabeth line services between West Drayton and Reading. Pay as you go with contactless can be used on all TfL services including the full length of the Elizabeth line. Get the full lowdown on using the Elizabeth line.
