What is Card-Based Ticketing & Account-Based Ticketing
Most traditional transport ticketing systems are the Cash-Based Ticketing or ‘Card Centric.’ This means the travel information and the right to travel on public transport is stored in the Card. A card-based ticketing scheme stores transaction data on the cards and transactions are processed instantly when the cards come into contact with payment terminals which enable you to see the fares being deducted and the Card balance. This is the same for magstripe paper or smartcard ticketing systems. These ‘Closed-Loop’ systems, where the fare media is supplied by the transport provider, have been around for years and provide a robust solution in which transactions are primarily stored on the card and only secondarily in the readers and then in the local and/or central back-offices.
In recent years, thanks to advances in communications technologies, innovative transport providers have launched new transport ticketing systems that allow passengers to use contactless bank cards, mobile phones, wearables, or other IDs to travel. These new technologies allow for ‘Open-Loop’ and ‘Account-Based’ systems. They provide a greater degree of convenience for passengers than ‘Card Centric’ and cash-based ticketing systems, while saving transport providers money. The transit fare collection system architecture that uses the back-office system to apply relevant business rules, determine the fare, and settle the transaction.”
Essentially right to travel is managed by the central back office and the ‘ticket’ the passenger has acts as a 'token' or proof of the right to travel and identifier of a customer’s account - hence, Account-Based. The back office stores the tokens usage patterns and also settles the transaction (based on usage). As such, the back office is the primary source of truth, unlike in a Card Centric system where, as described above, it is the card. Because of this, passengers are able to use what they have in their pocket to travel, be it an cEMV contactless bank card, smartcard, phone or a smart wearable and the payment will link with their ‘account’ residing in the back office. This means passengers no longer need to buy a ticket or understand fares to travel, safe in the knowledge they will be charged 'best fare' for their journey. Account-Based Ticketing systems are also better placed to take advantage of the advances in technology to run and scale more efficiently, with the back-offices often being managed from the ‘Cloud’.
related:
Shelving of SimplyGo plan: What are other cities doing with public transport payments?
A number of public transport systems worldwide have begun their shift to account-based ticketing platforms in recent years. Some still concurrently run systems that offer card-centric modes of payment to cater to the needs of various groups.
With account-based ticketing, travel records are held in a back office and transactions are processed there. In contrast, a card-based ticketing scheme stores transaction data on the cards, and transactions are processed instantly when the cards come into contact with payment terminals.
In Singapore, a planned move to ditch older ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards for SimplyGo, an account-based system, by June sparked unease among some adult public transport users. Some wrung their hands over not being able to see the fares they are charged at transaction points. SimplyGo transactions are handled on back-end systems. Pulling the plug on the move on Jan 22, barely two weeks after it was announced, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat acknowledged passengers’ concerns about the inability to display fares. Mr Chee said there is no technical solution to this for the moment, and this is the case elsewhere too.
related:
Why can’t I see fares charged on card readers with SimplyGo?
Transactions made on Nets FlashPay cards and older ez-link cards not upgraded to SimplyGo – which are part of what is known as the legacy card-based ticketing system – are processed at MRT fare gates and card readers on buses. With SimplyGo, however, the transactions are handled on the back end, and therefore fares charged are not displayed on fare readers. This is similar to credit card payments for public transport fares.
In a statement on Jan 12, LTA said that when a user taps his SimplyGo ez-link card, it is technically possible for the fare gates and bus card readers to obtain and display the card balance and deduction information from the back-end system. However, this will take a few seconds, and slow down the entry and exit of passengers, said the authority. “Given the large numbers of commuters who are taking the MRT and buses, this will lead to longer queues, which are not desirable,” said LTA.
SimplyGo is an account-based system for public transport fare payments. It was launched in 2019 by LTA to handle digital ticketing and e-payment options – such as contactless bank cards – for public transport. LTA said on Jan 9 that SimplyGo payment methods now account for the majority of adult fare transactions on public transport, and the current card-based ticketing system is near the end of its operational lifespan. In December 2023, there were 2.6 million adult fare payments a day made on the SimplyGo system, compared with 1.5 million such transactions daily on the card-based ticketing system. Therefore, LTA said: “Instead of renewing the card-based ticketing system and continuing to run two systems, which is very costly, we have decided to continue only with the SimplyGo system for adult commuters from June 1.
Plans afoot to make SimplyGo card also work for motoring payments
There are plans to make the SimplyGo account-based ticketing system work for motoring payments down the road, on top of its current uses for public transport and retail, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. “Over time, we do want to work towards having the SimplyGo card being able to be used for retail, public transport and also for motoring,” Mr Chee told Parliament on Feb 5. This will put SimplyGo stored-value cards on a par with older ez-link cards, which can be used across public transport, motoring and retail.
But it will take time to find such solutions, Mr Chee said in a debate on the issue that lasted about 40 minutes. This is one reason the card-based ticketing system for adult transport cards needs to be extended by six years past its shelf life until at least 2030 in a $40 million move, the minister added. In the meantime, Mr Chee said, he has asked the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to add more card readers at MRT stations and bus interchanges to allow SimplyGo users to check their card balances if they do not use the SimplyGo mobile app.
Unlike the older card-based system, which stores transaction data on the cards, SimplyGo handles fare payments on back-end servers. That is why fares and balances are not shown on card readers when tapping in or out, an issue the authorities are hoping to resolve. LTA had announced on Jan 9 that all adult public transport users must make the switch to SimplyGo by June, but shelved the move barely two weeks later, on Jan 22.
Transition to SimplyGo: LTA says old Card-Based Ticketing system is reaching end of its operational lifespan
Showing balance with SimplyGo system will mean longer queues: LTA
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is pressing on with the transition to the SimplyGo public transport payment platform, despite online complaints after its announcement on Tuesday (9 January) that adult EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards cannot be used on public transport from 1 June. It insisted that the old Card-Based Ticketing (CBT) system for adult commuters, which stores all information on the commuters' cards such as the outgoing adult EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay ones, is "reaching the end of its operational lifespan". Responding to queries from Yahoo Southeast Asia, an LTA spokesperson said in an email, "The SimplyGo system has been in use since 2019. This allows commuters to use contactless bank cards and mobile wallets to pay for public transport.
"SimplyGo also provides commuters with the benefit of enabling remote top up of their SimplyGo EZ-Link cards, reducing their reliance on ticketing machines. Should commuters misplace their SimplyGo EZ-Link cards, they can also remotely cancel their card if paired with the SimplyGo app, and retain the monetary value in their backend account, which was not possible under the legacy CBT system. "Two in three adult commuters have adopted SimplyGo as of December 2023. Instead of renewing the CBT system and continuing to run two systems, which is very costly, we have decided to continue only with the SimplyGo system for adult commuters from 1 June." Among the most common complaints by netizens on the SimplyGo system is that the SimplyGo card does not display its remaining balance on the MRT fare gates or bus card readers, unlike the old cards under the CBT system. There were also complaints from commuters unable to upgrade their old cards to the SimplyGo ones at the ticketing machines.
LTA had responded by saying that the SimplyGo system stores account information and processes transactions at the backend, instead of at the MRT fare gates and bus card readers. When a user taps the SimplyGo card, it will take a few seconds for the fare gates and bus readers to obtain and display the card balance and deduction information from the backend system. "While this is technically possible, it will slow down the entry and exit for commuters. Given the large numbers of commuters who are taking MRT and buses, this will lead to longer queues which is not desirable," the LTA spokesperson explained in the email reply. Instead, commuters should now use the SimplyGo app to view the remaining balance, as well as obtain other information on their commutes. "For instance, the app can provide alerts on the fare charged for each trip via push notifications, top up cards and view trip details over a period of time," LTA said. "SimplyGo users who prefer not to use the app can also view their trip details and card balance at ticketing machines located at every train station and bus interchange. They can tap their SimplyGo card at these machines, and the display will show their card balances and the fares incurred on recent trips. "We will continue to leverage advancements in technology to improve the experience of checking fares and card balances with SimplyGo."
related:
SimplyGo EZ-Link Card
An initiative introduced by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore, SimplyGo brings more ease and convenience to commuters by providing a range of e-payment options for transit.
Get on board SimplyGo - An electronic mode of payment for public bus and train fares via any of these methods. You can also upgrade your current cards* - Or purchase a new SimplyGo EZ-Link Card to be onboard SimplyGo. With a SimplyGo EZ-Link Card, you can perform top-ups on the go and redeem travel eVouchers directly to your card.
What’s more - Register your bank cards and SimplyGo EZ-Link cards on the SimplyGo app to track your travel expenditure and history easily! You can also perform card-related services, plan your transport journey and more - all on a single, user-friendly mobile platform.
Account-based EZ-Link cards available for use in Public Transport from 28 Jan
From 28 January 2021, EZ-Link adult cardholders will have the option to update their existing EZ-Link cards to account-based at ticketing machines or buy new account-based EZ-Link cards from TransitLink Ticket Offices. These cards come with a backend account that will allow commuters to top up their travel cards through a mobile application anytime, anywhere. This saves them the hassle of queuing to top up at ticketing machines or having insufficient value on their travel cards with no ticketing machines nearby.
Commuters can also top up their family members’ account-based travel cards. In addition, commuters will receive notifications when the balances in the account of their cards are low. If they misplace their cards, card holders can also use the mobile application to block further transactions. This move towards account-based ticketing is part of LTA’s commuter-centric efforts to make commuting more convenient. In the past, our public transport only had a card-based ticketing system. In 2019, a separate account-based ticketing system was set up. This system enabled commuters to pay for public transport fares using bank cards and mobile wallets, which saves the hassle of carrying a separate travel card. It currently supports contactless bank cards from Mastercard, Visa and NETS, as well as mobile wallets such as GooglePay.
Like contactless bank cards and mobile wallets used for public transport, transactions using account-based EZ-Link cards are processed backend so commuters will not immediately see their fare deduction and card value balance at MRT fare gates and bus readers. Commuters who choose to use the account-based EZ-Link cards can download the TL SimplyGo app to view up to the last 180 days of fare transaction history as well as access other ticketing services such as claims submission. A pilot for concession cards that supports account-based ticketing will start later this year. The pilot will help us better understand potential concerns and make the necessary adjustments to enable a smoother transition for card holders as we progressively convert to account-based ticketing.
related:
Why switching to SimplyGo feels like a downgrade for some commuters
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is facing an issue with the transition from a legacy card-based ticketing system to the newer SimplyGo. Namely, some commuters are finding the transition to be SimplyNo. After all, why phase out a system that everyone has been accustomed to and, more importantly, has been working well?
Ever since SimplyGo was launched in 2019, the LTA has been running two separate ticketing systems side by side. The first is the legacy Card-Based Ticketing (CBT) system which stores all information on the commuters' cards. Older adult EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards run on this system and fare transactions are processed at the fare gates or bus card readers. The second system is, of course, SimplyGo.
Unlike the Card-Based Ticketing system, SimplyGo stores all account information and processes fare transactions in a backend system. This system allows commuters to pay their fare using e-payment modes such bank cards and mobile wallets. It also enables the use of contactless technology like our mobile phones and smart watches. One of the biggest draws is that commuters no longer need to carry around a stored-value card which needs to be topped-up regularly.
Government spending S$40 million for hardware replacement, system maintenance to extend ticketing system
The funds needed to extend the card-based ticketing system will be provided by the government
The additional S$40 million (US$29.8 million) budget allocated to support the continued use of EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards will be used for hardware replacements and systems maintenance, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday (Jan 22).
Following the announcement that commuters will no longer be made to switch to the SimplyGo payment platform for public transport, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the government will spend "an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use" the older ticketing system if they wish to. Responding to CNA's queries on Monday (Jan 22), an LTA spokesperson said the budget will be used for the hardware replacements and systems maintenance required to extend the adult card-based ticketing (CBT) system. It will be funded by the government.
"Public transport fares are set based on a formula. The cost of providing fare payment systems is not specifically accounted for in the formula," the LTA spokesperson added. "Nevertheless, it is a very small proportion of the total cost of providing public transport." The authority also said it conducted market testing and focus group sessions with adult commuters and concession cardholders before the SimplyGo transition plan was finalised. It added that account-based ticketing (ABT) cards were issued to more than 1,000 concession cardholders in 2021 for them to test and report back based on their experience.
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is a system used to manage road congestion in Singapore.
You pay a fee when driving through an ERP gantry during operational hours. ERP charges are reviewed regularly to keep traffic moving at an optimal speed. There are different ERP operating hours on the eve of major public holidays.
ERP 1.0 IU
- The In-vehicle Unit (IU) in your vehicle deducts the ERP charges based on your chosen mode of payment. To avoid ERP violations, sign up for backend payment services.
- When you sign up for a backend payment service, the service provider will notify you once the service is activated.
- If you drive through an ERP gantry without paying, you will receive a notice of ERP violation. You will then have to pay the ERP charge plus an administrative fee.
- All Singapore-registered vehicles must install an IU to drive through operating ERP gantries. If you do not have an IU, there is a penalty of $70.00 for each operating ERP gantry you drive through. The IU in each vehicle communicates with the ERP gantry to deduct the ERP charge. You can install your IU at any LTA-Authorised IU Inspection and Service Centre. For IU-related issues, you can visit an IU inspection centre. Each IU comes with a label stating the IU number, you can refer to the pictures below on how the label looks like. Alternatively, you can also check your IU number online.
ERP 2.0 IU
- The current gantry-based ERP system has been in operation for 25 years (since 1998) and will be replaced by a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based ERP 2.0 system. As part of the shift to the new ERP 2.0 system, all Singapore-registered vehicles will need to replace their In-Vehicle Unit (IU) with a new On-Board Unit (OBU). Once installed, the transition will be seamless, with no difference in how you are charged for ERP and parking today.
- Motorcycles will be fitted with a single-piece design that includes a Processing Unit and a small touchscreen for riders to toggle through different functions. Cars and all other vehicles will be fitted with a three-piece design, comprising an Antenna, Processing Unit and an optional Touchscreen Display. If you choose not to install the Touchscreen Display, you can download a compatible mobile application to view ERP and other traffic information.
- The new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based ERP 2.0 system will deliver all the functionalities of the existing system plus a range of new motorist-friendly services. With GNSS, ERP 2.0 also eliminates the need for bulky gantries on our roads.
- As part of the shift to the new system, all Singapore-registered vehicles would need to replace their In-Vehicle Unit (IU) with a new On-Board Unit (OBU). Since November 2023, the OBU is being installed in some vehicles, starting with fleet vehicles and then new motorcycles from mid-Feb 2024. From 1 May 2024, OBUs will be installed in all new vehicles and existing motorcycles. All other vehicles will be progressively notified from later part of 2024.
- Once the new OBU is installed, the transition will be seamless, with no difference in how you are charged for parking or ERP today. You would not need to update any arrangements currently tagged to your IU (e.g. season parking). During the transition period, there will also be no change to the congestion pricing framework.
- Motorcycles will be installed with a single-piece OBU comprising a Processing Unit with a small touchscreen.For other vehicles, the OBU is designed as a three-piece unit to provide additional functionalities, optimise performance under warm weather conditions, and allow flexibility for replacing individual parts. Vehicle owners can choose to install the Processing Unit, Antenna, and a Touchscreen Display; or just the Processing Unit and Antenna, with the support of a mobile application downloaded to a smartphone.
- The new OBU will provide information on ERP and parking charges. The three-piece OBU will also deliver real-time road safety information such as locations of nearby school zones, Silver Zones, bus lanes and speed cameras.
- More features will be added to the system throughout the installation exercise. Since 19 April 2024, we have introduced a button on the touchscreen display to temporarily deactivate the CEPAS card to facilitate use of complimentary parking ticket. The button does not affect ERP payments - ERP deduction will still be made when you reach the next active ERP gantry, even if you do not press the button to reactive the card after leaving the carpark.
- In future, the OBU will alert motorists when approaching an ERP-charging location and display real-time traffic incident alerts, so that motorists can make more informed decisions on their travel route. Through the OBU, motorists will also be able to pay for usage licences such as for off-peak cars, classic/vintage vehicles, tolls* at existing Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, and roadside parking.
Electronic Road Pricing
The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system is an electronic toll collection scheme adopted in Singapore to manage traffic by way of road pricing, and as a usage-based taxation mechanism to complement the purchase-based Certificate of Entitlement system. There are a total of 93 ERP gantries located throughout the country, along expressways and roads leading towards the Central Area. The ERP was implemented by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on April 1, 1998 to replace the preceding Singapore Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) that was first introduced on 11 August 1974 after successfully stress-testing the system with vehicles running at high speed. The system uses open road tolling; vehicles do not stop or slow down to pay tolls
ERP 1.0 IU
- The scheme consists of ERP gantries located at all roads linking into Singapore's Central Area. They are also located along the expressways and arterial roads with heavy traffic to discourage usage during peak hours. The gantry system is actually a system of sensors on 2 gantries, one in front of the other. Cameras are also attached to the gantries to capture the rear license plate numbers of vehicles. As of August 23, 2023, there were 93 ERP gantries in Singapore. New gantries are implemented where congestion is severe, like expressways and other roads.
- A device known as an In-vehicle Unit (IU) is affixed on the lower right corner of the front windscreen within sight of the driver, in which a stored-value card, the NETS CashCard, is inserted for payment of the road usage charges. The second generation IU accepts Contactless NETS FlashPay and EZ-Link. The cost of an IU is S$150. It is mandatory for all Singapore-registered vehicles to be fitted with an IU if they wish to use the priced roads. When a vehicle equipped with an IU passes under an ERP gantry, a road usage charge is deducted from the CashCard in the IU. Sensors installed on the gantries communicate with the IU via a dedicated short-range communication system, and the deducted amount is displayed to the driver on an LCD screen of the IU.
ERP 2.0 IU
- The ERP 2.0 system is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based system, as opposed to the current system with physical gantries located along expressways, as well as roads and arterial roads leading to the CBD.[8] With the new system, the ERP scheme will move towards a distance based charging policy, instead of the current system, where a fixed toll is charged when vehicles pass through a physical ERP gantry.[9] The system also shows real-time traffic information, couponless parking and automatic payment.[9] There will be no need for big gantries when the system starts, with current IU systems replaced by onboard units (OBUs) with one-piece units for motorcycles and three-piece units for other vehicles.
- Joinly developed by NCS Group and MHI Engine System, the Onboard Unit (OBU) will be rolled out in phases and the installation is slated to be completed by 2025.[14] The OBU will consist of 3 components for all vehicles, except for motorcycles, which will remain a 1 piece unit. The 3 piece units consists of an antenna, processing unit and a touchscreen display. The antenna and touchscreen display will be affixed on the lower right corner of the front windscreen within sight of the driver, while the processing unit is located on the right side of the passenger side footwell for the 3 piece unit. Vehicle owners can choose to not install the touchscreen display, but will be unable to adjust the volume of the OBU, other features such as a future payment system that will be introduced to the OBU, live traffic data and updates, can be accessed via smartphone applications developed with software development kits released by LTA.[14] Road users will be able to use Contactless e-Purse Application Specification (CEPAS) cards, such as the EZ-Link Motoring card, a standard EZ-Link card, as well as NETS FlashPay and Nets Motoring cards which can be inserted into the processing unit. The NETS CashCard will no longer be compatible with the OBU system.
- LTA announced that the distance-based charging policy will not be implemented in the near future, with no concrete date on when the new policy will take place.[16] The current ERP charges will remain the same, with the OBUs able to work the same as the IUs when passing through a physical ERP gantry.[15] The physical gantries will be removed in phases after the installation of OBUs is completed in all vehicles.
Full adoption push for SimplyGo a 'judgment error' - No go for SimplyGo
With the SimplyGo plan shelved, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on Jan 22 said the authorities will spend an additional $40 million to continue operating the current ticketing system.
While the plan has been halted, the SimplyGo platform continues to run for commuters who still wish to switch to the account-based system. It is not yet known if the plan to switch everyone to the platform will resurface in the future. Senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe weighs in on the future of SimplyGo in Singapore.
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Disappointment with LTA's ‘Bulky’ ERP 2.0 OBU
LTA’s $556 million misstep: Approving an ERP 2.0 device that cannot meet minimum standards of heat tolerance
In a recent parliamentary session, concerns surfaced about the new ERP 2.0 OBU’s design. Despite its bulkiness, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat did not confirm if it meets the AEC-Q100 heat tolerance standards. The oversight is significant, considering the S$556 million tender for the ERP 2.0 system and the flawless performance of the previous generation’s device for over two decades.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat responded to growing concerns over the new On-Board Unit (OBU) for the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP 2.0) system, defending the device’s implementation and design. His explanations, while intended to clarify, only deepened public scepticism about the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) decision-making process. The minister highlighted the design’s adaptation to Singapore’s harsh temperatures, citing that car footwells—where part of the OBU is to be installed—experience significantly cooler temperatures than dashboards, which can reach up to 52°C. The separation of the OBU into three components was, according to Minister Chee, a necessary response to prevent overheating risks associated with a single-piece unit.
However, this decision comes at the cost of increased bulkiness and complexity, moving away from the more compact design of the previous generation’s IU system, which notably faced no such overheating issues. What’s striking here is the evasion of a critical question posed by Mr Louis Chua, Workesr’ Party MP for Sengkang GRC. Mr Chua asked whether the new OBU meets the Automotive Electronics Council’s AEC-Q100 standard, a benchmark for reliable operations under thermal stress in automotive environments.
