Looks as though Marlow branch was switched on over the weekend. Therefore all of the Thames Valley branches now have access to Contactless Fares, and the "paper islands" have finally been removed.

Contactless on Marlow branch allegedly will be switched on over the coming weekend (in time for Liz Line opening).

The Marlow branch contactless capability was being tested yesterday and apparently is targeted to be switched on over the weekend 14th/15th May.

Contactless is due to go live on Windsor & Eton Central Branch as well as all stations on the Henley-on-Thames Branch line from Monday 28th March. Readers have been installed on the Marlow branch, but due to go live in April

Being installed on the Marlow branch as I type. The commissioning and testing of these things always seems to take much longer than one would imagine

I remember being on the sleeper as a child and my parents whispering "that's Harold Wilson.... smell the pipe smoke.... looks like his copper has the cabin next to him...."

Must have been around mid-late '80s. Seemed to be Harold Wilson took the helicopter from Penzance, whilst we were on the "Vomit Vessel"

I think that the Hatton to Lapworth ticket does not meet the monthly minimum cost (as specified on the website) to avail of free weekend travel on Chiltern

It is a commitment in the Direct Award (due 31/10/21), and the contactless fares are also in the fares database (with the exception of London fares), so I strongly suspect that it is going ahead.

Cabling is underway, and therefore I suspect that contactless may be switched on for the January fares change.

I have done exactly the same. I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to load the ticket from my smartphone for a GWR one day travelcard. It worked on GWR barriers; tube and bus faultlessly

I read elsewhere that Contactless on the Thames Valley branches is supposed to be working before 31st October 2021. The cabling is being fitted to enable the readers, so perhaps 31st October will be an appropriate launch date.

Is anybody aware as to whether it is possible to split flexi-seasons at a station that the train does not call at?

This appears possible with season tickets, but unsure whether a flexi-season is also a season ticket within that meaning.

e.g. want to travel A to C. Flexi season cost per journey is £12
However A to B has a flexi season cost of £5 per journey and B to C has a cost of £5.50

Not all trains between A & C stop at B. Would be allowed to take a non-stop train, or would your train have to stop at B?

Well.....

Slough (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
Langley (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
Iver (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
West Drayton (Grand Union Canal)
Hayes & Harlington (Grand Union Canal)
Greenford (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)
Paddington (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)
Old Oak Common (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)

I would strongly suggest that you do the Marlow branch in the evening peak to experience Bourne End station with two trains.

Interestingly the contactless fares have now appeared on BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Fares, but not for travel to London...

Here is an example Windsor & Eton Central to Slough: https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=WNC&dest=SLO

Anytime Day Single Paper £3.10. Contactless Peak Single £2.00
Off Peak Day Single Paper £3.00. Contactless Off Peak Single £1.50
Anytime Day Return Paper £4.00
Off Peak Day Return Paper £3.10

There are no Return Fares with Contactless, but it makes sense when you do the maths, however if you travel one way in peak, and the other off peak, it is most advantageous to use contactless (notwithstanding the differences between the timing of peak and off peak for paper and contactless)