The likelihood is that the majority of this money
will remain unclaimed, and so available for the
government to use for improvement projects
such as new tube lines and maintenance.
For cash-savvy consumers looking to save
money and reduce the chances of losing their
prepaid cards, switching to Apple Pay or a
contactless debit card is the most sensible
option, allowing them to only pay for their
fares and ensure none of their money is
wasted. Apple’s new partnership with Transport
for London makes this process even more
convenient for all.
A SIMPLER WAY TO TRAVEL
Thanks to Express Mode on Apple Pay,
consumers no longer need to hold up the queue
when they get to the turnstile when traveling
on the Underground - a common frustration
when you have to remove your phone from
your pocket and wait for Face ID to verify your
identity. Instead, travelers can now tap and
go with their iPhone or Apple Watch, and TfL
will calculate their fare before taking a single
payment at the end of the day, saving time
and money.
First introduced in iOS 12.3 with Suica in
Japan, Apple wants to reduce the friction of
traveling with Express Transport but requires
governments and partners to work with them
for the feature to work. As with many Apple
Pay launches, it’s expected that the company
is working hard behind the scenes to build
relationships with some of the world’s biggest
travel organizations to make Express Transit a
reality, and London Underground is the latest.