EZ-Link

Last updated

EZ-Link
EZ-Link logo.svg
Location Singapore
Launched13 April 2002;22 years ago (2002-04-13) (FeliCa EZ-Link)
February 2009;15 years ago (2009-02) (CEPAS card-based EZ-Link)
9 March 2020;4 years ago (2020-03-09) (as EZ-Link Wallet)
28 January 2021;3 years ago (2021-01-28) (CEPAS account-based EZ-Link)
Technology
OperatorEZ-Link Pte Ltd
ManagerTransitLink Pte Ltd
Currency SGD ($0 minimum load, $500 maximum load)
Stored-value Pay-as-you-go
Credit expiry5 years
Auto recharge Auto top-up by Credit card Adult
Auto top-up by Credit Card Concession
Auto top-up by GIRO Adult
Auto top-up by GIRO Concession
Validity
Retailed
  • SimplyGo ticket offices
  • Convenience stores
Variants
Website www.ezlink.com.sg OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Iccard.gif
Animation showing how the card is used at ticket gates at train stations
Ticketing Machine.png
General Ticketing Machines, where commuters can add value to their EZ-Link card or purchase a Standard Ticket
Top-Up machine.png
Top up machines commonly seen throughout train stations or bus interchanges

The EZ-Link card is a rechargeable contactless smart card and electronic money system that is primarily used as a payment method for public transport such as bus and rail lines in Singapore. A standard EZ-Link card is a credit-card-sized stored-value contact-less smart-card that comes in a variety of colours, as well as limited edition designs. It is sold by TransitLink Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and can be used on travel modes across Singapore, including the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), the Light Rail Transit (LRT), public buses which are operated by SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore, as well as the Sentosa Express.

Contents

Established in 2001, the first generation of the card was based on the Sony FeliCa smart card technology and was promoted as the means for speedier boarding times on the city-state's bus and rail services. It had a monopoly on public transportation fare payments in Singapore until September 2009, when the NETS FlashPay card, which had a monopoly over Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) toll payments, entered the market for transportation payments (and vice versa). EZ-Link cards are distributed and managed by EZ-Link Pte. Ltd., also a subsidiary of Singapore's Land Transport Authority.

In September 2009, CEPAS EZ-Link cards replaced the original EZ-Link card, expanding the card's usage to taxis, ERP gantries (with the dual-mode in-vehicle unit), car parks (which have been upgraded to accept CEPAS-compliant cards), convenience stores, supermarkets and fast food restaurants. Compared to NETS FlashPay however, EZ-Link has lesser acceptance at retail shops. EZ-Link can also be used as a payment card at vending machines throughout the country.

Account-based CEPAS EZ-Link card was launched in January 2021. [1]

In March 2023, the Land Transport Authority announced plans to merge their subsidiaries TransitLink and EZ-Link into a single entity SimplyGo. [2]

History

Development

The Land Transport Authority introduced its pilot testing of the card to 100,000 volunteers on 26 February 2000. Initially for commuters who made at least five trips on MRT/LRT per week, the card was branded as the "Super Rider". As an incentive, volunteers were given 10% rebate off their regular fare during the one-month period. [3] Two further tests were made, with the scheme extending to frequent bus users on selected routes on an invitation basis. [4]

Card usage

The card is commonly used in Singapore as a smartcard for paying transportation fees in the city-state's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and public bus services. The EZ-Link function is also used in concession cards for students in nationally recognised educational institutes, full-time national service personnel serving in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force or senior citizens who are over 60 years old. [5]

The system is similar to the Pasmo and ICOCA cards, and the card's use have since been expanded to retail, private transport, government services, community services, educational institutes and vending machines.

On 17 October 2007, local telco StarHub and EZ-Link Pte Ltd declared the start of a 6-month trial on phones with an embedded EZ-Link card. [6]

Since 2009, Singapore motorists can use EZ-Link cards in their new generation In-Vehicle Unit to pay for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and Electronic Parking System (EPS) payments. [7] [8] In August 2016, EZ-Link introduced a post-paid ERP payment service called EZ-Pay. [9]

In March 2016, EZ-Link concluded a trial with the Land Transport Authority and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore on the use of compatible mobile phones with Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology to make public transport payments. [10]

In February 2018, EZ-Link and NTUC Social Enterprises launched a partnership to promote cashless payments. This allowed EZ-Link card holders with a linked NTUC Plus card to earn LinkPoints with EZ-Link purchases, spare change could also be used to top-up EZ-Link cards when customers make cash payments at Cheers convenience stores, and EZ-Link acceptance was extended to NTUC FairPrice supermarkets and NTUC Unity pharmacies. [11] However, EZ-Link payments at FairPrice and Unity stores were ceased on 3 May 2023 until further notice. [12]

In April 2018, the card also gained acceptance on NETS terminals in hawker centres across Singapore. [13]

In September 2018, the EZ-Link card became part of a unified cashless payment system rolled out at 500 hawker stalls across Singapore. [14]

In April 2019, EZ-Link announced it was working with Touch 'N Go to create a dual currency cross-border card for public transport. [15] The card was launched on 17 August 2020. [16]

Variations

In 2007, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Tourism Board launched the Singapore Tourist Pass produced by EZ-Link to offer tourists unlimited rides on Singapore's public transport system. [17] [18]

In 2015, EZ-Link introduced 'EZ-Charms', trinkets that have full EZ-Link functionalities, such as the Hello Kitty EZ-Charms, [19] that received overwhelming response. [20]

In 2017, EZ-Link launched EZ-Link Wearables, wearable devices that have full EZ-Link functionalities such as fitness trackers. [21]

Back of a standard CEPAS EZ-Link card (left) and account-based CEPAS SimplyGo EZ-Link card (right). CEPAS EZ-Link Card & CEPAS SimplyGo EZ-Link Card (back).png
Back of a standard CEPAS EZ-Link card (left) and account-based CEPAS SimplyGo EZ-Link card (right).

System for e-Payments (SeP)

A trial to test the system was held from 29 August to 28 October 2008. The trial, which involved some 5,000 commuters, generated 1.7 million transactions and has confirmed that the system is ready for revenue service. Developed in-house by the LTA, SeP is built on the Singapore Standard for Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS) which allows any smart card that complies with the standard to be used with the system and in a wide variety of payment applications.

With SeP, commuters were able to use cards issued by any card issuer for transit purposes as long as the card complied with the CEPAS standard and included the transit application. Commuters could eventually use CEPAS-compliant cards for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) payments in vehicles fitted with the new generation In-vehicle Unit (IU), Electronic Parking System (EPS) carparks and other electronic payment systems that supported the CEPAS standard.

During the free one-for-one exchange exercise, most of them replaced their cards during the direct card replacement exercise in 2009. Others seemed to replace new cards after the old cards were out of value and become collectors' value. The new EZ-Link cards also have a higher storage capacity of S$500.00 instead of the previous S$100.00 limit but most passengers keep to the $100 limit in case of loss of card. [22]

The EZ-Link App is a mobile application developed by EZ-Link that is available on the Google Play Store and App Store. It was first released as an Android-exclusive app in 2013 under the name 'My EZ-Link Mobile App', [23] and is used for:

On 9 March 2020, EZ-Link launched the EZ-Link Wallet, an e-wallet for mobile phones. Compared to the EZ-Link card which is based on NFC, the EZ-Link Wallet is based on QR code, bypassing the need for payment terminals, relying on smartphones and a printed QR code. It is compliant with the SGQR code system.

An email address and local mobile number are required to register for an EZ-Link account. Users have to top-up the e-wallet with a debit/credit card, and make payments by scanning the QR code at a retail shop and entering the payment amount. Payment can be authorised with either a 6-digit PIN or the phone's fingerprint scanner. Up to 6 debit/credit cards can be saved in the EZ-Link app. [28]

Users can earn EZ-Link Rewards points for each digital wallet transaction, which can be used to redeem vouchers. The EZ-Link Wallet can also be used overseas at an Alipay Connect-enabled merchant in Japan.

The following payment networks are supported by the EZ-Link Wallet:

SimplyGo

Commuters upgrading their EZ-Link cards to SimplyGo in January 2024 NS19 Toa Payoh Concourse Ticket Counter 20240112 183054.jpg
Commuters upgrading their EZ-Link cards to SimplyGo in January 2024

SimplyGo was launched in March 2019 for MasterCard users as a separate account-based ticketing system allowing commuters to pay their public transport fares using bank cards. [30] SimplyGo expanded to Visa on 6 June [31] and Nets on 16 November. [32] When the system launched, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng said that SimplyGo was not intended to replace other payment methods such as EZ-Link. [33] In September 2020, a pilot program to expand the use of SimplyGo with EZ-Link adult cards was launched. [34] This was followed on 28 January 2021 by the rollout of account-based EZ-Link cards for adults. Commuters could also update their existing EZ-Link cards to the new system. [35] [36]

Concession cards were included in SimplyGo on 19 October 2022, with the option to upgrade student concession cards only available in 2023. [37] In March 2023, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that it would merge the TransitLink SimplyGo and EZ-Link mobile apps into a single "SimplyGo" app. [2] [38] On 15 June, the EZ-Link Pte Ltd's (EZ-Link) and Transit Link Pte Ltd's (TransitLink) transit and travel card-related services were consolidated under the "SimplyGo" branding. [39] On 9 January 2024, LTA announced that EZ-Link cards that had not yet been upgraded to SimplyGo and Nets Flashpay cards would be deprecated on 1 June 2024. [40] [41] By then, a majority of commuters were already using SimplyGo, and the existing card-based system was near the end of its operational lifespan. As it would also be costly to run both ticketing systems, the LTA decided to proceed with SimplyGo. [42]

Criticism and transitional issues

Many commuters expressed dissatisfaction with the change, [43] particularly the inability to ascertain the fares charged at the transaction points on buses and the MRT after their cards were upgraded to SimplyGo. [42] When the issue was raised in 2023, the LTA explained that, as most of the SimplyGo features involve back-end processing, riders could not view their stored value card balance and deductions at MRT fare gates and bus readers. The fare transactions could only be viewed on the SimplyGo app. [44] The LTA said that while it would be possible to implement the feature for SimplyGo users, it would take "a few more seconds" for the information from the backend to be displayed at the fare gates, and hence would slow down commuters who were entering or exiting. [45]

During the week after LTA's announcement, several commuters attempted to upgrade their EZ-Link cards to the SimplyGo platform. The high transaction volume caused the SimplyGo system to become less stable and responsive, resulting in longer processing times and failed upgrades that lead to commuters' cards being invalidated. [46] On 19 January 2024, the SimplyGo upgrade feature on ticketing machines at MRT stations had been made temporarily unavailable until further notice, while LTA attempts to address technical issues with the transition. [47]

On 22 January, transport minister Chee Hong Tat announced that the LTA reversed their decision and decided to extend the use of the card-based system. Those who had converted their cards to the new SimplyGo system during the January period could revert to the old system if they preferred to at no additional cost. [48] Chee also acknowledged that the issues encountered during the transition could have been avoided "with better preparation". An additional S$40 million (US$28.99 million) would be invested to maintain both systems. [49]

Technical data

A pre-CEPAS defaced EZ-Link card, revealing the internal circuitry. Defaced EZ-Link Card.jpg
A pre-CEPAS defaced EZ-Link card, revealing the internal circuitry.

The EZ-Link card operates on a radio frequency (RF) interface of 13.56 MHz at 212 kbit/s, with the potential for communication speeds in excess of 847 kbit/s. It employs the Manchester bit coding scheme for noise tolerance against distance fluctuation between the card and the contactless reader, and implements the Triple DES algorithm for security.

Pricing

An adult EZ-Link card costs S$12, inclusive of a S$5 non-refundable card cost and a $7 card value. [50] [51]

There was a problem with commuters attempting to evade paying the full fare with the prior magnetic fare card system. Under the EZ-Link system, when users tap their card on the entry card reader, the system deducts the maximum fare payable from their bus stop to the end of the bus route. If they tap their card on the exit reader when they disembark, the system will return an amount based on the remaining bus stages to the end of the bus route. If they fail to tap the card on the exit reader when they disembark, the entry card reader would have already deducted the maximum fare payable to the end of the bus route. [52]

Card top-up

EZ-Link card holders could top up their cards in several ways including General Ticketing Machines at all MRT stations, [53] TransitLink Add Value Machine, TransitLink Ticket Offices, convenience stores, ATM machines, AXS Stations, People's Association Community Clubs and Water Venture Outlets and EZ-Reload.

Card holders used to be able to top up using EZ-Online, an online service provided by EZ-Link. This service allowed commuters to view their past transaction records, download discount coupons onto their cards, pay for shopping using the EZ-Link card at selected online merchants (up to S$100 per transaction), and top up their EZ-Link card online through any connected Sony Felica contactless smart card reader.

In 2013, EZ-Link launched the world's first NFC Mobile Application for EZ-Link card top-ups. [54]

From December 2017 onwards, card holders could top up their EZ-Link card using the EZ-Link App on NFC-enabled phones. [55]

Since August 2018, card holders who link their Mastercard and Visa credit or debit cards to EZ-Reload no longer need to pay convenience fees for their top-ups. [56]

Refund

A Refund Service Charge of $1 will be charged per month for EZ-link cards that have expired for 2 years or more until the value is refunded or fully depleted. This applies to the remaining card balance, and not the initial deposit or cost of the card that is non-refundable. Refund may be requested at ticketing offices. In addition, commuters may replace expiring EZ-link cards before 31 December 2024 at a subsidised cost of $3. [57]

Comparison of payment modes

On 10 January 2024, LTA announced that EZ-Link adult cards which have not yet been upgraded to SimplyGo will no longer be accepted for public transport fare payment from 1 June 2024, due to phasing out of the legacy card-based ticketing system. Commuters with EZ-Link Adult Cards may upgrade to the SimplyGo system at any ticketing machine and retain their current cards. [58] [59] The decision was reversed by the authorities on 22 January 2024 following significant backlash, and existing EZ-Link cards can continue to be used after 1 June 2024. [49]

Card payments – stored-valued cards

Payment ModeDescriptionYear Introduced Contactless payment Carpark & Electronic Road Pricing paymentTop Up Using Self-help MachinesTop Up Using Mobile AppTop Up Locations

• EZ-Link cards

• Concession cards

• EZ-Link Motoring cards

(Card-based Offline Debit)

Card-based stored-value wallet, based on CEPAS standard.

✓ It can be used for retail and public transport payments, without remote management functionality.

✓ Commuters can see their fare cost and card balance at the gantry.

✓ The card-based offline debit EZ-Link cards and EZ-Link Motoring cards are compatible with dual mode in-vehicle units for ERP and carpark payments.

2002: FeliCa card
2009: CEPAS card
2021: EZ-Link Motoring Card (CEPAS)

The card-based offline debit EZ-Link cards are no longer sold at TransitLink Ticket Offices since 15 March 2022, to encourage adoption of the SimplyGo account-based system. [60] [61]

EZ-Link Motoring cards (with a non-account-based card profile & similar functionality) are still sold at 7-Eleven/Cheers convenience stores, selected Caltex petrol stations, Vicom centres, STA Inspection centres. EZ-Link Motoring cards cannot be converted to be used on the SimplyGo system. [62]

Green check.svg Public transport, and a small number of retail locationsGreen check.svg at CEPAS-compliant car parksYeswith EZ-Link appTop-ups can be made with cash, NETS EFTPOS cards, Visa/Mastercard/JCB cards.
  • Add Value Machine Plus (AVM+), General Ticketing Machines (GTMs)
  • TransitLink Ticket Office
  • Local bank ATMs (DBS/POSB, OCBC*)
  • AXS stations*
  • 7-Eleven convenience stores*
  • Cheers convenience stores*
  • EZ-Link App

(* a service fee is chargeable)

• SimplyGo EZ-Link cards

• SimplyGo Concession cards

(Account-based Online Debit)

Online account-based ticketing wallet, based on CEPAS standard.

As the card information is stored on a central server, the card balance can be topped up without presence of physical card.

Concession cards are only available for: children under 7 years old, students, full-time National Servicemen, senior citizens aged 60 years and above, persons with disabilities, Workfare Income Supplement recipients.

✓ It is compatible with the SimplyGo system for remote management of public transport cards.

✗ Fare cost and card balance will not be displayed at the gantry. Commuters have to create an account and sign in to the SimplyGo website or app, to view their travel history and its related fares.

✗ These account-based online debit cards are not compatible with ERP and carpark payments.

2021 [63] Green check.svg Public transport, and a small number of retail locationsDark Red x.svg NoYeswith EZ-Link app

App payments

Payment ModeDescriptionRequirementsYear Introduced Contactless payment QR code payment Top Up Using Self-help MachinesTop Up Using Mobile AppTop Up Locations
• EZ-Link WalletStored-value wallet based on QR codes.• An email address and local mobile number are required to register for an EZ-Link account.

• A locally issued Visa/Mastercard card is required to make top-ups.

2020Tap and pay is available with in-app virtual card by Mastercard [64] [65] YesNowith EZ-Link appIn-app top up with a locally issued Visa/Mastercard card. Up to 6 Visa/Mastercard card details can be stored in the app.

See also

Related Research Articles

Suica is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card and electronic money system used as a fare card on train lines and other public transport systems in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001 by JR East. The card can be used across the nation as part of Japan's Nationwide Mutual Usage Service. The card is also widely used as electronic money for purchases at stores and kiosks, especially at convenience stores and within train stations. In 2018, JR East reported that Suica was used for 6.6 million daily transactions. As of October 2023, 95.64 million Suica have been issued, and 1.63 million stores accept payment via Suica's digital currency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)</span> Principal metro system serving Singapore

The Mass Rapid Transit system, locally known by the initialism MRT, is a rapid transit system in Singapore and the island country's principal mode of railway transportation. The system commenced operations in November 1987 after two decades of planning with an initial 6 km (3.7 mi) stretch consisting of five stations. The network has since grown to span the length and breadth of the country's main island – with the exception of the forested core and the rural northwestern region – in accordance with Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the backbone of the country's public transportation system, averaging a daily ridership of 3.4 million in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land Transport Authority</span> Government agency in Singapore

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic Road Pricing</span> Singaporean toll collection scheme

The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system is an electronic toll collection scheme adopted in Singapore to manage traffic by way of road pricing, and as a usage-based taxation mechanism to complement the purchase-based Certificate of Entitlement system. There are a total of 93 ERP gantries located throughout the country, along expressways and roads leading towards the Central Area. As of February 2023, there were a total of 19 ERP gantries in operation, as compared to 77 in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch 'n Go</span> Malaysian expressway smart card

Touch 'n Go is a contactless smart card system used for electronic payments in Malaysia. The system was introduced in 1997 and is widely used for toll payments on highways, public transportation, parking, and other services. The card is equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that allows users to make payments by simply tapping the card on a reader device. Touch 'n Go cards can be reloaded with funds either online or at designated reload kiosks. The system has become a popular and convenient way for Malaysians to make cashless transactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public buses of Singapore</span> Main public transport system in Singapore

Public buses form a significant part of public transport in Singapore, with over 3.6 million rides taken per day on average as of December 2021. There are 352 scheduled bus services, operated by SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore. The newest bus operator, Go-Ahead Singapore started operation on 4 September 2016. There are also around 5,800 buses currently in operation as of 2020.

FeliCa is a contactless RFID smart card system from Sony in Japan, primarily used in electronic money cards. The name stands for Felicity Card. First utilized in the Octopus card system in Hong Kong, the technology is used in a variety of cards also in countries such as Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Macau, the Philippines and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clipper card</span> Public transit ticketing system in the San Francisco Bay Area, US

The Clipper card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for automated fare collection in the San Francisco Bay Area. First introduced as TransLink in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) as a pilot program, it was rebranded in its current form on June 16, 2010. Like other transit smart cards such as the Oyster card, the Clipper card is a credit card-sized stored-value card capable of holding both cash value and transit passes for the participating transit agencies. In addition to the traditional plastic card, Clipper is available as a virtual card in Google Wallet and Apple Wallet. Clipper is accepted by nearly all public transit services in the Bay Area, including but not limited to Muni, BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, SamTrans, Golden Gate Transit, Golden Gate Ferry, San Francisco Bay Ferry, and VTA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presto card</span> Contactless smart card fare system in Ontario, Canada

The Presto card is a contactless smart card automated fare collection system used on participating public transit systems in the province of Ontario, Canada, specifically in Greater Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa. Presto card readers were implemented on a trial basis from 25 June 2007 to 30 September 2008. Full implementation began in November 2009 and it was rolled out across rapid transit stations, railway stations, bus stops and terminals, and transit vehicles on eleven different transit systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the MRT (Singapore)</span> Overview of the transit networks development in Singapore

The history of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system of Singapore commenced with its planning in the 1960s, which finally led to its opening in 1987 with the launch of a 6 km section of the North South Line (NSL) from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh. Since its inception, the rapid transit system has played a crucial role in the public transportation network and the wider development of the country as a whole, providing a fast and efficient means of transportation for millions of Singaporeans daily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentosa Express</span> Monorail connecting Singapore with Sentosa

The Sentosa Express is a monorail line connecting Sentosa island to HarbourFront on the Singapore mainland. It was built at a cost of S$140 million to replace the previous Sentosa Monorail. Development began in June 2003 and construction works were completed in late 2006. The fully elevated 2.1-kilometre two-way line opened on 15 January 2007. The monorail system, privately owned by Sentosa Development Corporation and operated by Singapore Mass Rapid Transit, can move up to 4,000 passengers per hour per direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)</span>

Rail operators are government-assisted profit-based corporations, fares and ticketing on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system are aimed to break-even or exceed operating expenses. Rail operators collect fares based on account-based (ABT) and card-based ticketing options, the prices of which are calculated based on the distances travelled between the origin and destination. These prices increase in stages for standard non-concessionary travel, according to the distances travelled. In account-based ticketing, the fare is automatically calculated in the back-end and charged to the passenger post journey. On the other hand, card-based ticketing is proprietary to the transport network and the fare is computed by the system based on the store values recorded in the cards. The public transit system is harmonising towards full ABT.

A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit tickets, bank cards and passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NETS (company)</span> Singaporean electronic payment service provider

Network for Electronic Transfers, colloquially known as NETS, is a Singaporean electronic payment service provider. Founded in 1986 by a consortium of local banks, it aims to establish the debit network and drive the adoption of electronic payments in Singapore. It is owned by DBS Bank, OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank (UOB).

CEPAS, the Specification for Contactless e-Purse Application, is a Singaporean specification for an electronic money smart card. The specification was prepared by the Cards and Personnel Identification Technical Committee (CPITC), under the purview of the IT Standard Committee of Singapore (ITSCS). It has been gazetted as Singapore Standard SS 518 by Enterprise Singapore. CEPAS has been deployed island-wide, replacing the previous original EZ-Link card effective 1 October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit Access Pass</span> Physical and electronic public transit smart card used in Los Angeles

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a contactless smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, California. The card is also available in electronic form, free of charge, in Apple Wallet, thereby bypassing the need to purchase the plastic USD $2 card. It is administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), and the card and fare collection systems are manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems.

The Smart Nation is an initiative by the Government of Singapore to harness infocomm technologies, networks and big data to create tech-enabled solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hop Fastpass</span> Public transit smart card used in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington

Hop Fastpass is a contactless smart card for public transit fare payment on most transit modes in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area including MAX Light Rail, WES commuter rail, Portland Streetcar, The Vine, and all TriMet and C-TRAN buses. An initial release to the general public began on July 5, 2017, with the official launch on July 17. The program is managed by TriMet.

The following lists events that happened during 2024 in the Republic of Singapore.

References

  1. ↑ "EZ-Link Offers Account-Based Ticketing for Public Transport". 27 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Karamjit Kaur (25 January 2000). "100,000 commuters needed for smart card test". The Straits Times . p. 33.
  3. ↑ "Bus pilot test for the Contactless Smart Card" (Press release). SMRT Corporation. 2000. Archived from the original on 29 April 2007.
  4. ↑ "Concession Cards | Train Fares & Travel Cards | MRT & LRT Trains | Public Transport | Land Transport Authority". 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "EZ-Link and Starhub celebrate the launch of their near-field communication phone trial with 1000 handsets distributed to their customers" (Press release). EZ-Link. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  6. ↑ Tan, Weizhen (27 December 2008). "New Ez-Link Cards Let You Do More". NewspaperSG . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "LTA launches dual-mode in-vehicle unit for cars" (Press release). Land Transport Authority. 2009.
  8. ↑ "EZ-Link launches post-paid ERP payment service". Channel NewsAsia. 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ↑ "Pay for bus, train rides by tapping your phone". The Straits Times . 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "More encouraged to go cashless as EZ-Link and NTUC launch partnership". TODAY. 2018.
  11. ↑ "Can I use my use my PAssion Silver Card to pay for my purchases at FairPrice?".
  12. ↑ "EZ-Link cards can be used to pay for meals at hawker centre". Channel NewsAsia. 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  13. ↑ "Unified cashless payment system rolled out at 500 hawker stalls across Singapore". The Straits Times . 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  14. ↑ Tariq, Qishin (9 April 2019). "Touch 'N Go is working with Singapore's EZ-Link to make a dual currency card". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dual currency contactless card launched by Singapore's EZ-Link, Malaysia's Touch 'n Go". 17 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "Travel on public transport system a cinch for tourists" (Press release). Land Transport Authority. 2007. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  17. ↑ Almenoar, Maria (13 December 2007). "New unlimited travel pass for visitors". The Straits Times . p. 35.
  18. ↑ "Say hello to kitty charms for EZ-Link". The Straits Times . 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  19. ↑ "Almost 10000 fans queue for hello kitty EZ-Link charms islandwide, some from midnight". The Straits Times . 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "EZ-Link introduces wearable devices". Channel NewsAsia. 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "New features with CEPAS-compliant EZ-Link card". Wayback Machine. 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009.
  22. ↑ "New app turns your smartphone into a top-up machine for ez-link cards". The Straits Times . 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "EZ-Link promotes e-payment adoption with free auto top-up, loose change top-up". Business Times. 2018. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  24. ↑ "Pay at stores using EZ-Link card and earn NTUC linkpoints". The Straits Times . 2018. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  25. ↑ "EZ-Pay removes the hassle of topping up CashCard for motorists in Singapore". The Straits Times . 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  26. ↑ "7 things you probably didn't know about your EZ-Link card". AsiaOne. 2019. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  27. ↑ "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com.
  28. ↑ "An Easier Way to Travel with SimplyGo". LTA. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  29. ↑ "Visa to Come Onboard SimplyGo from 6 June". LTA. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "NETS to Come On Board with SimplyGo from 16 November". LTA. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  31. ↑ Abdullah, Zhaki (4 April 2019). "SimplyGo with new transport payment option". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "LTA Launches SimplyGo Pilot On EZ-Link Cards". LTA. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  33. ↑ "Account-based EZ-Link cards available for use in Public Transport from 28 Jan". LTA. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  34. ↑ "Concession Cards to Come on Board SimplyGo". LTA. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  35. ↑ ""SimplyGo" Branding for One-Stop Transit Ticketing and Travel Card Services". TransitLink. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  36. ↑ ""SimplyGo" Branding for One-Stop Transit Ticketing and Travel Card Services". LTA. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  37. ↑ "EZ-Link Adult Cardholders and NETS FlashPay Cardholders to Transit to SimplyGo for Public Transport Fare Payments by 1 June". LTA. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  38. ↑ "Non-SimplyGo EZ-Link, NETS FlashPay cards not valid for public transport from June". CNA. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  39. 1 2 Tjoe, Lee Nian (12 January 2024). "askST: Why can't I see fares charged on card readers with SimplyGo?". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  40. ↑ Ng, Abigail (11 January 2024). "CNA Explains: Why some Singapore commuters are upset about moving from EZ-Link to SimplyGo". CNA. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  41. ↑ "View SimplyGo transactions in app and at ticketing machines". LTA. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  42. ↑ Yeo, Nikki (12 January 2024). "Displaying fares, deductions at gantries under SimplyGo possible but 'will lead to longer queues': LTA". TODAY. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  43. ↑ Ng, Abigail (12 January 2024). "Commuters run into problems upgrading EZ-Link cards amid complaints over switch to SimplyGo". CNA. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  44. ↑ Tjoe, Lee Nian; Yaohui, Lim; Xuan, Leow Wen (19 January 2024). "Free exchange of Nets FlashPay cards at SimplyGo ticket offices postponed 'until further notice'". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "Card Exchange for SimplyGo EZ-Link and Concession Cardholders". LTA. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  46. 1 2 Tjoe, Lee Nian; Yufeng, Kok (22 January 2024). "LTA shelves plan to replace older public transport payment cards with SimplyGo by June 1". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  47. ↑ "EZ-Link FAQs". EZ-Link. 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  48. ↑ "Where the cards are sold". Wayback Machine. 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  49. ↑ "Useful tips on using EZ-Link card on buses" (Press release). Translitlink. 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  50. ↑ hermesauto (29 December 2016). "Credit and debit card top-up for Cepas cards at MRT stations from Jan 1". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  51. ↑ "New app turns your smartphone into a top-up machine for EZ-Link cards". The Straits Times . 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  52. ↑ GmbH, finanzen net. "Wirecard Partners With EZ-Link and Cheers to Establish a Tailor-made Contactless Card Solution in Singapore Reducing the Usage of Loose Change in the Country | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  53. ↑ "EZ-Link promotes E-payment adoption with free auto top-up". The Straits Times . 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  54. ↑ "Have an expiring card?". EZ-Link.
  55. ↑ "Non-SimplyGo EZ-Link, NETS FlashPay cards not valid for public transport from June". CNA. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  56. ↑ "LTA | EZ-Link Adult Cardholders and NETS FlashPay Cardholders to Transit to SimplyGo for Public Transport Fare Payments by 1 June". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  57. ↑ "Expiring EZ-Link cards before 31st Dec 2024". Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  58. ↑ "Singapore's LTA Sees Strong Take-Up of Open-Loop Payments but has No Plans to End Closed Loop - Mobility Payments". 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  59. ↑ "EZ-Link Motoring card". Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  60. ↑ "LTA | Account-based EZ-Link cards available for use in Public Transport from 28 Jan". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  61. ↑ "EZ-Link and Mastercard® team up to extend EZ-Link Wallet acceptance globally, and drive digital payments with enhanced user experience and rewards". www.mastercard.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  62. ↑ "EZ-Link and Mastercard team up to extend EZ-Link Wallet acceptance globally, and drive digital payments with enhanced user experience and rewards - EZ-Link". 28 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.