Apple launches Apple Pay Express Transit
Forget having to wait a few seconds for your card to be read on London’s public transport as someone tuts loudly behind you. From today, Apple Express Transit mode will allow you to use Apple Pay on the Underground, buses and other TfL services instantaneously.
Thanks to Express Mode, there’s no longer any need for Face ID or Touch ID. Just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the yellow card reader and go.
Rather than using biometric data to authenticate the payment – either in the form of FaceID or TouchID – with Express Transit, Transport for London (TfL) customers can designate a specific card to be their travel payment card. This means they won’t need to authenticate the payment when they pass through the tube barriers, so it is hopefully faster for everyone.
Express Transit works with Apple iPhone SE, 6S and above as well as the Apple Watch. Furthermore, there’s no need to worry about running out of battery – if you have an iPhone XS or XR and above, if your device runs out of charge then you will be able to still use Apple Pay on the TfL network for up to five hours.
How to set Apple Express Transit for TfL
Apple will select the default card for Apple Pay as the new Express Transit card. However, this can be changed.
- Go to Settings on the iPhone
- Select Wallet & Apple Pay
- Scroll down and you will see “Express Travel Card” under a new section named Travel Cards
- Click on this and select which card you would like to be your Apple travel card
- You’re free to travel around the network
