MRT and LRT gantries now accept Apple Pay Express – no authentication needed

SINGAPORE – Apple device users can now tap into MRT and LRT stations at gantries even faster than before – no authentication required.

By enabling Apple Pay Express mode, someone with an iPhone or Apple Watch just needs to raise his device to the gantry and payment will be processed, even if the screen is asleep.

Previously, users had to either unlock their devices or authenticate their identities, either through facial recognition, scanning their fingerprint, or keying in the passcode.

The express feature is exclusively designed for public transport payments, and can be used on major transit systems internationally as well. Regular retail payments will still require authentication by device owners.

Apple Pay Express has been available at all MRT and LRT stations since mid-August.

By end-2027, it could be used across the entire public transport network, including buses, under the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) plans, the authority told The Straits Times on Sept 4.

Currently, only buses installed with enhanced card readers accepts fare payment using the express feature. LTA did not say how many of such buses there are now.

The advanced card readers have a larger screen, as seen in an LTA Facebook post on June 19.

They are being progressively introduced to the public bus fleet – which currently numbers 6,067 as at the end of 2025 – and will be implemented across all of them by the end of 2027.

For buses without the new card readers, commuters should carry on with the current practice of unlocking their device or authenticating their identity when tapping in.

To enable Apple Pay Express on an iPhone:

• Open the Apple Wallet app and select a card.

• Tap on the three dots at the top-right hand corner and click on card details.

• Select the option that says, “Express Travel”, and enable it.

To set it up on an Apple Watch:

• Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.

• Select the Wallet and Apple Pay option in the tab that says, “My Watch”.

• Tap on “Express Travel Card”, select a card, and authenticate it on the watch using the passcode.

ST has contacted Apple for more information.

Aqil Hamzah is a transport journalist at The Straits Times. He is also interested in issues related to crime and technology.