No more cash fares London buses

And the solution is?

Thanks, Nigel. So buses will accept any kind of pass, travel card, oyster card, contactless card or even (expensive) single paper ticket, as long as it's purchased from a tube station of other vendor, right? Just no handing cash to the bus driver.

Yes no cash to the driver.

According to TfL currently all Amex contactless cards are accepted, wherever they were issued. Visa International intends all cards to be accepted but there are a few that won't work for a while. Mastercards from the USA and Canada though are amongst those unlikely to work, down to card issuer. Not clear if this is a technical or policy issue.

For me, who has not paid a cash bus fare in London since I was in school (threepence halfpenny in those days) and who always has an Oyster it is easy.

Travelcards are easy too,

What I am confused about is the big push by TfL for contactless cards. I don't understand how capping works, or even if capping does work with normal - non Oyster - cards.

No capping currently with the bus-only acceptance.

When introduced over other services (underground, tram, DLR etc) there is supposed to be daily and weekly capping in operation.

It won't be of use if you are entitled to a discount, such as for a senior railcard.

TfL's info page: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/is-contactless-for-me

The page about acceptability is: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/what-is-contactless?intcmp=8610

You will be able to register your card with TfL in the same way as an Oyster, to get travel history, and spot those all too common incomplete journeys for a refund.

No, only at some bus stops which display a yellow banner on the routes shown on them, or the whole route area has been yellow. If no yellow banner on that route, cash fares have been fine.

Announced today that contactless cards will be accepted for direct payment on the Underground, Overground, DLR and Trams from 16 September.

Capping will be introduced on a daily and Monday-Sunday basis from that date too.

Accounts will be sent to the card provider on a daily basis.

National Rail services to follow.

Still looks like the most likely to be accepted brand of US cards will be Amex followed by Visa at the start.