London Oyster zones extend in Essex and Hertfordshire

Ten stations will be added to the Oyster network by February, including Ware and Hertford East

Details have emerged of the stations in Essex and Hertfordshire which will be given the London "smart card" system Oyster, after Dutch company Abellio was awarded the Greater Anglia rail franchise.

It takes over from National Express East Anglia next year.

The 10 stations to be added to the network are Theobalds Grove, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Brentwood, Shenfield, Broxbourne, Rye House, St Margarets, Ware and Hertford East.

This will probably happen by February.

It will be more convenient, yes - but will it be any cheaper?

We don't know yet, and no doubt that will depend on which tickets you are used to buying.

It's hard to envisage Oyster being cheaper than an annual season ticket, but it may be cheaper than weekly or even monthly tickets.

Extension talks

Transport for London (TfL) says: "Pay-as-you-go with Oyster not only charges the lowest fares in nearly every case but also saves time, as there is no need to queue to buy a ticket.

"Passengers simply top up their card at any suitable ticket machine or online.

"TfL is only responsible for setting the Oyster pay as you go fares on its own services.

"The fares for using Oyster on National Rail, both in London and beyond the London borders, will continue to be the responsibility of the train company.

"The costs of extending Oyster, including the installation of readers, will be met by Abellio."

As I predicted last month, talks are ongoing with other operators "about extending the acceptance of Oyster beyond the Greater London Travelcard area, where it makes sense to do so".

Sources have told me St Albans is possible and stations as far out as Windsor and Dartford could also see Oyster in the future. Nothing official yet, though.

Also - politically, the announcement is very interesting.

For years City Hall has wanted more control over the metro train franchises.

Here we have an example of how a TfL system is spreading into the shires.

It's debatable whether it tightens City Hall's grip on transport in the south east, but certainly the private rail companies and the public TfL services are becoming more and more entwined.