Editing Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway) (section)

===The Key===
{{Main|The Key (smartcard)}}
In 2012, Southern became the first rail company in England to use the [[ITSO Ltd|ITSO card]] on its network. [[The Key (smartcard)|The Key]] is a smartcard similar to [[Transport for London]]'s [[Oyster card]]. Tickets of various types can be purchased for the smartcard at ticket vending machines across the majority of the GTR network, except within Oyster-capable travel areas, as well as online (season tickets only).

Three forms of Key exist: child, adult, and staff. All child smartcards need a photograph, which is printed onto the card, as well as proof of age while registering. The Key can be de-activated and the tickets transferred to a new card sent out in the post if the smartcard is reported as lost, stolen or faulty.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title = The key smartcard {{!}} Southern Railway |url = https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/contact-us/faqs/the-key-smartcard |access-date = 3 May 2023 |website = southernrailway.com}}</ref> Staff smartcards are only issued to employees of GTR, and offer unlimited travel across all of GTR's network.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The Key also has a pay-as-you-go feature called [[keyGo]]. With this, customers can tap in and out freely within the keyGo area, and the cheapest combination of tickets from the entire day's taps are automatically calculated at the end of the railway day and automatically charged to a linked payment card. keyGo is also valid on Brighton & Hove buses and Metrobus services within certain areas. Bus journeys are charged at the single, day zonal, day network or Plusbus rates as appropriate.<ref>{{Cite web |title = KeyGo {{!}} Southern Railway |url = https://www.southernrailway.com/tickets/the-key-smartcard/keygo |access-date = 3 May 2023 |website = southernrailway.com}}</ref>

The Key can be used on all National Rail services where tickets are available for purchase on smartcards.<ref name=":1" />