Singapore’s public transport system is very affordable and efficient for the commoners. The use of advanced technologies in everyday transport has made Singaporean public transport more hassle-free.
To make public transportation in Singapore efficient, Ezlink card is one of the most effective ways to make payments. These types of cards use embedded silicon chips and contactless RFID antennas.
RFID card holders can use Ezlink cards on public transport. For instance, buses, MRT and also for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) accept payments made with Ezlink cards.
What are Ezlink cards?
Ezlink cards are touchless smartcards mainly used for making payments on transport, including MRTs and LRTs within Singapore. Over 40 million Ezlink cards have been authorised to date, making it a reasonable way of transit payments.
Using these cards, users can make a payment within 0.2 seconds after tapping the card reader device.
People are using Ezlink cards to pay for their groceries, motoring charges, and ERP charges. Singaporean tourists can easily top up this card to access public transport whenever they need it.
Every Ezlink card has a unique CAN number. Therefore, it can be understood whether the card is a transportation card or a concession card.
How to obtain Singapore Ezlink cards?
Users can purchase Ezlink cards from Transit Link ticket offices, Passenger Service Centres and Concession Card Replacement Offices. Moreover, tourists can buy Ezlink cards at MRT stations and bus interchanges.
The card costs between SGD 10 to 12 including the value to pay for transports.
RFID card holders can use up to three Ezlink cards linked with a single bank account or credit card for recharge. Each cardholder can add up to two different family accounts in a single Ezlink card.
Benefits of Ezlink cards for RFID card holders in Singapore
Using Ezlink cards for RFID card holders has been effective in many ways including:
- Cost Effectiveness
RFID card holders can enjoy a reduced fare every time they commute using an Ezlink card. Availing these smartcards to minimise their travelling expenses is beneficial instead of buying single tickets for public transport.
Many convenience stores, gyms and several government services accept Ezlink cards. Cardholders can use their smart cards wherever they see the Ezlink sign.
- Convenience
Ezlink cards are very convenient as they can be obtained from any bus stations, MRTs or passenger service centres. Several recharging kiosks are also there to make the top-up process easier.
It is a contactless and fast way to make hassle-free transactions on public transport. With a single tap on the card readers, the passengers can pay the fare using the Ezlink cards.
- Sustainable
Environment-concerned people can use Ezlink cards as using these cards encourages paperless transactions. Integration of Ezlink cards in domains like retail, toll, and motoring charges effective for improved cashless experience.
Ezlink has also explored the option of using bamboo to make a charm to be used in place of plastic cards.
- Secure Transactions
RFID card holders can use Ezlink cards as it is very secure to use as the card contains the encrypted stored value. Additionally, the Ezlink cards are only issued by TransitLink, which is Singapore’s public transport agency.
The RFID microprocessor chip embedded inside the card saves all the transactions made by Ezlink card holders.
Transactions can be made only when tapped into card readers which reduces the scope of unauthorized activities. The operations are strictly overseen by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) adding extra security.
Where to recharge the Ezlink Cards in Singapore?
The RFID card holders can top up their Ezlink cards anywhere across Singapore anytime.
- Self-service Ticketing Options
SimplyGo Kiosks and Top-up Kiosks (TUK) can be used to recharge the Ezlink cards, which are in bus interchanges. RFID card holders can easily recharge their cards using these self-help kiosks.
- Automatic Top-Up
Users may also register their Mastercard or Visa cards through the Simply Go app to automatically top-up Ezlinks cards.
- ATMs
Across Singapore, all DBS and POSB ATMs have the facility to top up Ezlink cards. OCBC ATMs with the Ezlink logo can be used by theRFID card holders.
The maximum value that can be stored is up to SGD 500 for one Ezlink card. The maximum validity of a card is 5 years from the date of encoding.
- Convenience Stores
Ezlink cards can also be recharged in convenience stores like 7-Elevens, making it more accessible for cardholders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the increasing demand for Ezlink cards has made it a popular choice for commuters across Singapore. Ezlink cards are also convenient and perfect to use while travelling reducing the confusion regarding fares. With its smart integration and safe transaction method, this smart card is becoming a first-choice option for RFID card holders.