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Apple Pay With Express Transit Mode Goes Live for D.C. Metro Riders

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Apple Pay with Express Transit mode today appears to have gone live for the Washington Metro.

MacRumors reader Errin submitted screenshots showing the SmarTrip fare card ready for public transport use in the Wallet app on iPhone. Several Twitter users have also shared news of the card appearing in the Wallet app for them, too.


Riders in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area should now be able to add their reloadable SmarTrip fare card to the Wallet app, and simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a contactless payment reader at Metrorail stations or on Metrobus buses to pay their fare.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced in December 2019 that Apple Pay with Express Transit would be coming to the Washington Metro this year.

Express Transit mode allows for tap-and-go payment, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. The device does not need to be waked or unlocked, either.

Article Link: Apple Pay With Express Transit Mode Goes Live for D.C. Metro Riders
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/01/apple-pay-express-transit-live-dc-metro-riders/
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Does anyone know if it works in London? Was supposed to go life in March or so, but I didn't have any opportunity to try it.
 
Just added my card. Though it doesn't really add it. It replaces your existing card and tells you at the end that the plastic card can no longer be used.
 
GreenPixel said:
Just added my card. Though it doesn't really add it. It replaces your existing card and tells you at the end that the plastic card can no longer be used.
Click to expand...
I have a very old SmarTrip card and on the back I see two separate numbers
First comes a 9-digit number with all numbers, no letters
Next is a 7-digit number which is a mix of letters and numbers, ending in three and not four letters, as instructions for adding the number to Apple Wallet say.
Which did you use?
 
gnasher729 said:
Does anyone know if it works in London? Was supposed to go life in March or so, but I didn't have any opportunity to try it.
Click to expand...
br403 said:
Yes, it works, but only for credit cards, not for the Oyster card.
Click to expand...

Just to add for anyone who doesn’t live in London, the Express Transit feature works like regular contactless cards when it comes to daily and weekly price capping. So not being able to add your physical oyster card is really only a downside for people commuting or people with railcard discounts added to their Oyster card.
 
Is it now possible to get a “digital only” SmarTrip card without needing to get a physical card first?
 
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Have any Feds tried this yet? Do you have to use Apple Pay as the funding source for your SmartTrip card? What if you get a stipend from work for commuting, does that still work if you add it to your Wallet?
 
Still waiting on Chicago which was announced forever ago. Looking at our Ventra app that still hasn’t been updated to support the X/11 displays, I don’t have high hopes though.
 
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Speed38 said:
I have a very old SmarTrip card and on the back I see two separate numbers
First comes a 9-digit number with all numbers, no letters
Next is a 7-digit number which is a mix of letters and numbers, ending in three and not four letters, as instructions for adding the number to Apple Wallet say.
Which did you use?
Click to expand...
I looked at my account online and my card number is the 9 digits on the left.

Tried to transfer my card, but it's not being read by the phone. I've only $2 on it, so I may just stop using it and use the phone going forward.
 
Cool just added an old smartrip card! It does “move” the money and the card number I don’t think you can use both. The Washington DC metro is the only one listed at this point. You need the card number and the physical card the iPhone actually “reads” the chip in the card. You start the process in the iOS wallet app by choosing Add A Card.
 
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Speed38 said:
I have a very old SmarTrip card and on the back I see two separate numbers
First comes a 9-digit number with all numbers, no letters
Next is a 7-digit number which is a mix of letters and numbers, ending in three and not four letters, as instructions for adding the number to Apple Wallet say.
Which did you use?
Click to expand...

I tired every number on the back of my card and can't get it added. Just keeps telling me to try again later.

Edit: Turns out I just have no money on my card. Thought for sure I has some left from the last time I was in DC.
 
incoherent_1 said:
Don’t worry, WMATA still hasn’t rolled out 19th century features like “being on time” or “not catching on fire” so NYC still has the lead...
Click to expand...

being on time? what's that? :)) i'm so happy that i haven't had any need for the mta in all this time, and have had to use it about 3 times since march... :)
 
Speed38 said:
I have a very old SmarTrip card and on the back I see two separate numbers
First comes a 9-digit number with all numbers, no letters
Next is a 7-digit number which is a mix of letters and numbers, ending in three and not four letters, as instructions for adding the number to Apple Wallet say.
Which did you use?
Click to expand...
Mine was 5 sets of 4 digits. I know there are older numbering conventions but don't have one to test.
 
Canyonero said:
Still waiting on Chicago which was announced forever ago. Looking at our Ventra app that still hasn’t been updated to support the X/11 displays, I don’t have high hopes though.
Click to expand...

I went so far as to contact my alderman to find out what the holdup is, and the CTA would only tell them that it's still "coming soon". That's the same thing that's been on their website for 18 months now. Something is seriously rotten at Ventra.
 
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Does anyone know what the screenshot on the right means about transferring balance? Does this, and do other transit systems, allow the rider to choose between their digital transit card via Apple Wallet and their existing physical transit card as they please?
 
jent said:
Does anyone know what the screenshot on the right means about transferring balance? Does this, and do other transit systems, allow the rider to choose between their digital transit card via Apple Wallet and their existing physical transit card as they please?
Click to expand...
The card you "add" becomes deactivated.
 
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