Transport for London is maintaining a grim silence about the future of its relationship with TranSys, its Oyster travelcard provider, after the system yesterday failed a second time in two weeks, depriving TfL of millions in Tube fares.

A TfL spokesman said last night that the 17-year contract, which pays TranSys £100m annually for supplying, running and marketing the swipecard ticket system, had a number of break clauses that allowed for early termination.