What is Express Transit with Apple Pay?
Apple is continuing the adoption of Express Transit with Apple Pay around the world, the time-saving Apple Pay feature that makes paying for public transport a breeze.
Express Transit, which launched inertially with iOS 12.3, allows iPhone users to hold their device at transit terminals without having to either wake or authenticate with either Touch ID, Face ID or a passcode as you would with usual Apple Pay transactions to pay for transit, like you would with a contactless plastic travel card.
The system also works on Apple Watch, without the need to double tap the side button like other Apple Pay transactions require.
Support for Express Transit with Apple Pay is continuing to grow, with Suica cards in Japan, TriMet in Portland, New York’s MTA, and Chinese transit cards in both Beijing and Shanghai all supporting the service, with London’s TfL network expected to add Express Transit support in the coming months.
How to use Express Transit with Apple Pay
- Add a card in the Wallet app of your iPhone to pay for your journey
- Walk up to any transit terminal with your iPhone or Apple Watch
- Simply hold the device above the contactless card reader and the screen of your device will wake to show your transaction has been successful – your device will also vibrate
Express Transit with Apple Pay requires an iPhone SE or above, or an Apple Watch Series 1 or above. Users must be running the latest versions of iOS and watchOS, and also be in a location that supports transit cards with Apple Pay.