Paul Terry wrote:

I suppose. I just found it strange that the station lacks an Oyster card
reader, when every other station I've been to in Zones 1–3 has one.

Until recently the only stations that have readers are the ones where PAYG
can be used.

I've not been surface side at Maryland for ages, but it sounds like readers
haven't been installed yet. At next door Forest Gate there have been offline
readers for some months now.

Forest Gate is going to be chaotic at peak hours as there's only a narrow
hall between the platform steps and the street and the readers are at the
side of the walls there. If everyone's going to be required to touch in then
there will be almost physical fights to get to the readers.