NFC TIMES Exclusive Insight – Apple has expanded its Express Transit service to another major market, enabling Apple Pay users to pay for fares on Transport for London-run trains and buses without first authenticating themselves on the NFC devices.
It is not the first Pays wallet to enable this feature in London, and the move by Apple was expected. But it is, nonetheless, a significant development. And Apple is also reportedly allowing users with newer iPhones and Apple Watches to tap out at the end of their journeys even if their devices run out of battery power. Moreover, mobility app provider Citymapper also has launched support for Apple Pay in London with its subscription-based Citymapper Pass.
Express Transit enables riders to avoid using Face ID, Touch ID or entering a passcode on Apple’s NFC devices before tapping to pay at gates of the London Underground, on board London buses and on other Transport for London modes of transit. In the past, riders in London–where 20% of pay-as-you-go transactionsare made with NFC smartphones or wearables–usually had to prearm their devices before they got to the train or bus POS terminal– that is, they would authenticate themselves before getting to the front of the line at the turnstile or on board the bus. Those who tried to authenticate at the gate or when boarding sometimes caused delays for other customers.
