Passengers should be able to pay for rides on the Taipei MRT using credit cards or Apple Pay’s express contactless protocol (ECP) beginning in July next year, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday.
New payment methods would undergo phased launch tests and transaction security checks by acquiring banks and international card organizations, the company said in a statement.
After the launch, passengers would be able to tap their credit cards directly, or use mobile payments such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay linked to a credit card, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp
The cards would be used the same way as standard EasyCards, with them being read upon entrance at an MRT station and then having the appropriate fare deducted upon exit.
The ECP system is still under development by Apple and participating banks, and would be rolled out once testing is completed, currently set for July next year.
In addition, starting next month, the Taipei MRT and city bus systems would accept QR code payments through commonly used electronic payment services in Taiwan, including TWQR, Easy Wallet, iPass Money, icash Pay, JKOPay, Taishin Pay, ESun Wallet, PXPay Plus, Plus Pay and Line Pay, TRTC said.
A project to update and replace the Taipei MRT’s ticket gates to make them accessible for QR code payments was completed on schedule in October, with 1,396 main units and 2,361 payment boxes installed, it said.
The new payment options will give passengers greater flexibility, reduce time spent buying tickets, and cut down on cash transactions, it said.
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