Contactless Card Payments (SimplyGo System) Available in Singapore from June for Trains and Buses
Singapore commuters will be able to pay for their public transportation on buses and trains using their contactless credit cards or mobile phones with the SimplyGo system from 6 June.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has expanded their SimplyGo system to include Visa card users, making it much easier for commuters to now tap and go to make the payments for their bus and train fares. The response from the public is encouraging so far, with a steady uptake in usage and an average of over 120,000 trips daily.
Commuters will no longer need to top-up their cards, and with just a simple tap on the card reader using either their card or their mobile phones, they’re ready to go. SimplyGo links the credit or debit card directly to the transport providers. If you’re making payments using your mobile device, you must have either Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay or Samsung Pay installed on your device.
SimplyGo, rolled out on 4 April this year currently only supports Mastercard users. The inclusion of Visa means more commuters will now be able to enjoy this convenience. The introduction of this system is in line with the country’s Smart Nation and cashless goals. This convenience won’t just ease the travels of the locals, but tourists too, with Visa contactless usage expected to surpass the current penetration rate of more than 80%.
For the commuters who still rely on Nets FlashPay or ez-link, they would first need to head to the general ticketing machines, which are available at any LRT or MRT station and switch their payment method to “bank card” to gain access to SimplyGo. Fares will then be charged on either the Visa debit or credit card, similar to making contactless purchases.
LTA does advise commuters who may be carrying multiple cards with them to remove the card that they wish to use to make the payments before tapping on the far reader to avoid being charged multiple times. To access your travel history, commuters simply need to create a SimplyGo account and you’ll be able to see your fare charge history. For added convenience, you may opt to receive push notifications on your phone after each trip you complete.
