Epsom station will become part of the Oyster card public transport scheme on Monday (February 25).

Southern Railway announced that seven new stations would be added to the Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) scheme.

The stations added to the PAYG area were: Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Epsom.

Southern Railway said that Oyster card, contactless and mobile payments would be accepted at all seven stations with immediate effect, with the exception of Epsom station, where the scheme would come into effect on Monday (February 25).

The news followed a previous announcement from Transport Secretary and Conservative MP for Epsom and Ewell Chris Grayling, who told the Epsom Comet last year that the new ticketing system would be arriving to Epsom in 2019 in a bid to ease links between Epsom and London.

Mr Grayling said: "I hope this will make Epsom easier to access and use and will end the situation where people arriving at Epsom expecting to be able to use Oyster face a penalty fare."

While the Oyster PAYG is expected to streamline transport links in Epsom and the other six stations included in today's announcement, Southern Railway cautioned prospective rail users about some "important differences" between the seven new stations to be included and the main body of London stations already part of the scheme.

Southern Railway said: "These stations will not be included in the advertised London Travelcard zones; instead it offers customers an alternative way to pay for their travel using PAYG.

"Season tickets will not be available on Oyster along the extended route. If you normally buy a season ticket you are advised to continue to buy this using the Key Smartcard or a paper ticket

"Children’s ZIP Oyster cards, London Freedom Pass, 60+ London Oyster photocard and Veterans Oyster photocard holders can NOT travel free on the these routes."