LTA explores bank cards for alternative fare payment system

Upfront top-ups may become a thing of the past.

Singapore commuters may soon be able to ditch the hassle of upfront top-ups as the Land Transportation Authority (LTA) intends to roll out a pilot for account-based ticketing system in Q4 this year.

According to LTA’s announcement, the pilot is an effort to examine the feasibility of implementing such a system in the future.

With account-based ticketing, commuters can use contactless debit or credit cards for fare payments. Like utility bills or post-paid mobile phone subscriptions, transactions will be processed and charged to the commuter in subsequent credit or debit card bills.

Already, LTA has called a tender to appoint a consultancy to study the feasibility of launching the new ticketing system on a broader scale in the future. The study is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year.

LTA chief executive Chew Men Leong comments that should the pilot be successful, Singapore would be on of the few cities in the world to adopt the new fare system.