Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is to begin accepting Kaohsiung’s iPass smartcards next month, but EasyCard holders must wait until next year to enjoy a similar privilege when traveling on Kaohsiung’s MRT system.
Easycard Investment Holding Co chairman Kenneth Lin (林向愷) said EasyCards are to be accepted on Kaohsiung’s MRT system in March next year at the earliest.
EasyCard Corp quoted Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp as saying that new card readers at the entrances of all stations would be ready in July next year at the latest.
Photo: CNA
If there are delays in the installation of new card readers, EasyCard Corp would install EasyCard card readers at all Kaohsiung MRT stations at its own expense, the company said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung had been at odds over the use of their respective stored-value cards for public transportation use, with both sides said to have accused the other of restricting competition.
Under a new agreement, new card readers accepting both cards are to be installed at Taipei MRT station gates, starting next month.
All automatic gates in the system are to have card readers that accept the iPass by July next year, offering access to the system’s 117 stations, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said.
The EasyCard allows users to make payments for a wide range of services, including Taipei MRT fares, bus services in major cities, regular railway and high-speed rail tickets, taxi fares and small payments at designated stores.
Kaohsiung’s iPass can be used for similar transactions, but it is limited to the Kaohsiung MRT, with partner stores accepting small payments using the iPass being mostly in the southern city.
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