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[Singapore] Finally new fare payment system 'SimplyGo' officially launched / MasterCard is now accepted for public transportation

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Smartphones and smartwatches can now be used to pay for public transportation

The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) has introduced SimplyGo, a public transport fare payment system that is compatible with MasterCard debit and credit cards, from 4 April 2019. The system has already been in pilot operation since 2017 through a joint public-private sector project, and its official introduction was decided since it was well received by users. The new system will allow users to pay for MRT, LRT, and local buses by simply holding a contactless payment-enabled MasterCard or a smartphone with card information registered on it over the reader of the ticket gate. It is also compatible with Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
The dedicated app also allows users to check routes and payment amounts, which is very convenient. The service is currently only available for MasterCard users, but they've already started accepting registrations for Visa card holders, and by the end of 2019 at the latest, Visa cards will also be able to be used for SimplyGo.

Until now, passengers have been required to purchase an EZ Link Card, an IC card for public transportation. (If you ride only once, MRT and local buses can be paid for with cash, but the fare is more expensive than the EZ Link Card.) MRT and LRT have EZ Link Card recharging machines at each station, but if there is not enough money left on your EZ Link Card while riding on the bus, you cannot recharge it and there is no other option but to pay in cash, which does not give you any change.
The LTA hopes to use this system to further increase the number of people using public transportation. MasterCard is preparing to operate a similar fare payment system in major cities around the world in the future.

Translated with AI Translator

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  • May 10, 2019
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