With SeP, commuters will require new CEPAS-compliant transit cards. They will be able to use cards issued by any card issuer for transit purposes as long as the card complies with the CEPAS standard and includes the transit application. Initially, CEPAS-compliant cards will be offered by EZ-Link.
The next-generation e-payment system for public transit is built on the Singapore Standard for Contactless ePurse Application. |
"The new transit card can eventually be used for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) payments in vehicles fitted with the new generation In-vehicle Units (IU), Electronic Parking System (EPS) carparks and a wide variety of other electronic payment options that support the CEPAS standard. And as more card issuers enter the market, commuters will have more choice and convenience," said Mr Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive, Land Transport Authority.
Unlike the ez-link card, the new CEPAS-compliant card will give commuters full access to the card's stored value for non-transit payments. Currently, the ez-link card has a S$3 travel deposit which is not shown as the card balance. Hence, when the card reader reflects a card as having S$0.01, there is actually a S$3.01 value still in the card. The S$3 value is locked in as a travel deposit and can only be used for travel on trains and buses. This is why commuters are able to start a train or bus trip with only S$0.01 reflected in their ez-link card.
With no travel deposit required, the new CEPAS-compliant card will show the real balance. This means commuters should avoid topping-up their cards only when the remaining value is very low, to avoid having insufficient value to start their train/bus trip. However, the benefit of the CEPAS-compliant card is that commuters will have access to the full value of their card for non-transit payments if they wish.
The two-month SeP trial, which ends on 28 October 2008, is aimed at ensuring that the SeP system is ready for revenue service at the end of the year. Trial participants are pre-selected from adult ez-link cardholders based on their high public transport usage, and who do not use non-transit applications or GIRO/Auto Credit Card top-up facilities as these applications are not available during the trial.
The new system and the existing Enhanced Integrated Farecard System (EIFS) will run concurrently for about a year before EIFS is shut down. Details of the ez-link card replacement exercise will be announced later in the year. LTA has assured ez-link card holders that they will have ample time and avenues to replace their cards.
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