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I have heard something like this from colleagues, and I can confirm that staff Oyster cards are very fast. But I've always felt that regular Oyster cards are very fast too, so I don't notice much difference.

When the validator detects a staff Oyster card, it does check if the card is hotlisted (in case it was lost/stolen). But otherwise there's very little logic required.

In that context they are likely more of access badge than payment system. Thus far fewer steps to communicate and possibly even local copy of access database.

No need to check for topups/updating a db potentially?