The Key Smartcard | Great Northern

The Key Smartcard offers an easier and faster way to buy, renew and use train tickets.

To sign up, register on our website and select ‘Get the Key Smartcard’ as you go through the registration. You will receive your Key Smartcard in the post within five working days.

Once you’re signed up, it’s easy to access your account, simply login at any time to update your details and check your journey history.

Sign up for Auto Delay Repay notifications and you will automatically be prompted to claim compensation if you are delayed for 15 minutes or more.

Watch our video below to find out more.

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Railcards

Railcards can be used when buying tickets on the Key Smartcard include: 16-17 Saver, 16 – 25 Railcard, 26- 30 Railcard, Senior Railcard, Annual Goldcard, Network Railcard, HM Forces Railcard, Disabled Persons Railcard, Veterans Railcard, and Job Centre Plus.

Except for the 16-17 Saver Railcard, discounts are not valid on season tickets.

Using the Key Smartcard

Once you have received your Key Smartcard, you can buy tickets online and load them using our app. When prompted, simply tap your Key Smartcard to the back of your smartphone. Or, you can add your ticket to the Key Smartcard at your station by touching the gate or validator.

Pay-as-you go journeys

If you’re planning on travelling less frequently and would like to pay-as-you go for your journeys, adding keyGo to your Key Smartcard is a great option.

Add keyGo to your Key Smartcard to get the best day fares available on the day of travel, and weekly capping, for your pay as you go journeys.

Find out more about keyGo

Season tickets

If you’re making the same journey at least three times a week, you could make your regular trip cheaper and easier by choosing a Season ticket. As well as being cost-effective, this type of ticket gives you flexibility and makes getting to where you need to be a smooth, hassle-free process. With a Smartcard, it’s easier and faster to buy, renew and use your Season tickets.

Find out more about Season tickets

Flexible travel

The Flexi Season Ticket on Smartcard gives you eight passes over 28 days between two destinations, so you can make unlimited anytime journeys for the day, between the stations you choose. Load the Flexi Season Ticket onto your Key Smartcard, and travel when it suits you.

Find out more about Flexi Season Ticket

More information on ticket types

Ticket types you can have on the Key Smartcard and where you can purchase them

Ticket Type	Buy online	Buy at ticket offices	Buy at ticket machines (non Oyster machines only)
Annual season tickets and Travelcard season tickets* for London Zones 1-6	Yes	Yes	No
Monthly or weekly season ticket and Travelcard season tickets* London Zones 1-6	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anytime single and return tickets	No	Yes	Yes
Flexi Season tickets	Yes	Yes	No
Off-Peak single and return tickets**	No	Yes	Yes

Collecting your tickets on your Key Smartcard

When you buy a ticket online you must collect it from your chosen station by tapping your Key Smartcard against a reader at a gateline or validator, two hours after purchase
When you buy a ticket from a ticket machine it must be one of our ticket machines located outside of the London area
You can collect tickets and activate day passes for Flexi Season tickets on our mobile app from the App Store or Google Play

Smartcard readers are located either at the ticket gates or near the entrance/exit for stations with freestanding validators. Either way, they are easy to spot with a yellow disk. When travelling in the London area, use the Oyster reader at valid locations.

If you board a train without loading a ticket onto your Key Smartcard you will be travelling without a valid ticket and may be liable for a Penalty Fare

^{* Travelcard season tickets, include travel on London Underground, London Overground, London Buses, London Trams, Docklands Light Rail and National Rail services within London Zones 1-6}

^{**Super Off-Peak tickets are not currently available.}

What details do I need when registering for a Key Smartcard?

To get a Key Smartcard you will need to create an account with us and we will ask you for your name, address, date of birth and contact details.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child aged 5 to 15 years, you’ll need to provide the same information online as you do to register as an adult – name, address, date of birth and contact details. However, you’ll also need to provide a passport-style digital photograph of them for their smartcard. Make sure when registering for a Child Key Smartcard, you enter your child’s details for an online account.

To complete a child’s registration, you must also verify the child’s age at any Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink ticket office along with proof of identification, such as a passport or birth certificate.

Please note, child Keycards do take longer to issue than adult cards due to the extra steps involved in the process as stated above. If your child is 16 or over, please apply for an adult card.

More information about your online account is available here

Terms and conditions for the Key Smartcard are found here.

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