By Ida Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Ever wished you could just tap in with your credit card at an MRT or LRT fare gate in Kuala Lumpur, instead of buying a token or looking for the Touch ‘n Go card that you left in the car?
The good news is that it is coming soon.
The other good news is that you will also be able to use other cashless payment options — such as debit cards, QR codes, mobile wallets (e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) — for buses and trains in Kuala Lumpur in the future too.
Current options for KL’s rail services: Buy a token or use TNG card
Public transport operator Prasarana Malaysia Berhad explained why passengers currently cannot use credit cards, mobile wallets and QR codes yet to directly tap in and out for Rapid KL’s train services.
“Rapid KL’s current automated fare collection (AFC) system utilises the Touch ‘n Go platform, which has been the backbone of the network’s cashless ticketing since 1999.
“As a closed-loop system, it currently restricts tap-in and tap-out functionality exclusively to Touch ‘n Go as the sole stored value card media, alongside single-journey tokens for cash-based ticketing.
“While this system has served commuters reliably for decades, it was designed before the emergence of newer open payment technologies such as contactless bank cards and mobile wallets.
“As such, the existing infrastructure does not currently support direct integration with these newer payment methods,” the company said in a response to Malay Mail’s enquiry.
Currently, you can use cash, credit cards or debit cards at a ticket machine at Rapid KL’s train stations... but only to buy a token or reload your Touch ‘n Go card.
Now, you can only use a Touch ‘n Go card or a token to tap in and out for Rapid KL’s train rides, as seen here. — Picture by Choo Choy May
According to Prasarana, QR code payment “is available at all LRT, MRT, Monorail and BRT station counters”, which is also where you can buy tokens and reload Touch ‘n Go cards.
You can, of course, use cash or credit cards and debit cards at these station counters too to buy tokens or top-up your Touch ‘n Go cards’ value.
Current options for KL’s bus services
For Rapid KL’s buses, you can only pay using Touch ‘n Go cards or Rapid KL cards now, as cash is no longer an option since May 2019, based on Prasarana’s My Rapid website.
You can use cash, credit card or debit card at the ticket machine to buy a token or top-up your Touch ‘n Go card for a train ride. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Prasarana confirmed to Malay Mail that QR code payments to hop on Rapid KL buses are “not yet” available.
“At present, alternative payment options are limited: Rapid KL On-Demand (ROD) allows bookings via app-based payments, including QR code payments.
“However, credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) are not yet enabled for direct tap-in/tap-out across rail or bus services,” it said.
In the future: What we can expect
Prasarana confirmed that it plans to enable an open payment system (including credit cards, debit cards, QR codes, mobile wallets) for directly tapping in and out for all its train and bus services.
“Yes, Prasarana is actively working towards implementing an open payment system. The project is currently at the award stage, with finalisation expected soon,” it said.
Prasarana said this project is “currently in the final stages of the award process”.
It added that this initiative “will allow commuters to use credit/ debit cards and, eventually, mobile wallets for seamless travel”.
Prasarana said “QR code payment capability is included as part of the open payment system rollout”, and that this will be made available for both its rail services and bus services.
“The implementation timeline will align with the broader open payment deployment for rail and bus services,” it said.
Expected timeline for open payment system rollout
After the project is awarded, Prasarana said the open payment system is expected to be fully available within 30 months for its rail services, and within 15 months for its bus services in the Klang Valley.
In the future, QR code payments will be one of the alternative available payment methods for Rapid KL’s buses, according to Prasarana. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
Prasarana said “all payment modes under the open payment system, including credit cards, debit cards, QR, and NFC, will be delivered within the project timeline”.
“Once the project is awarded, open payment will be rolled out in phases in accordance with the project timeline.
“It is planned to cover all rail services (LRT, MRT, and Monorail) as well as bus services (BRT, Rapid KL, MRT Feeder bus, and Rapid Penang).
“Implementation for Rapid KL On-Demand (ROD) may follow a different timeline, subject to business direction/ prioritisation.”
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