On trial: New ez-link card
10,000 public transport commuters are wanted by the LTA to ‘test-ride’ a new ez-link card between Aug 29 and Oct 28.
Commuters who try at least 100 rides with the new card – which will eventually have several non-transit applications – will receive $20 public transport vouchers in return.
Volunteers can sign up at TransitLink ticket offices located at most bus interchanges and MRT stations.
The new card will be versatile enough to be used for a variety of applications,such as electronic road-pricing (ERP),carparks, taxi fares and for in store purchases as well.
The card is a ‘Contactless ePurse Application’ (Cepas)- which means that it is a secured platform for all non-cash transactions using contactless cards.
Another difference is that this card will have not have a $3 travel deposit which the current Ez-Link card has.This is why commuters are able to start a train or bus trip with only $0.01 reflected in their ez-link card.
However with the new card,there is no travel deposit and the real balance in the card is shown. So people with a habit of not topping up their card till the last minute should be warned.
Tests are being conducted so that any glitches can be removed to ensure that the system is ready for revenue service at the end of the year.
Ample time will be given for people to replace their cards and details of the ez-link card replacement exercise will be announced later in the year.
Trial participants have been pre-selected from adult ez-link cardholders based on the following criteria:
1) High public transport usage.
2) Do not use non-transit applications or GIR0/Auto credit card top up facilities (as these applications will not be available during the trial).
The first 10,000 to respond to LTA’s invitation to join the trial will be accepted as participants.
- Remember my old post complaining about high Nets charges and recommended ezlink??? WOOOOooOOHOOO!!! Sign me up!!!
I am not so sure about the downside of using ezlink card for more purpose other then security and accidentally losing the card somewhere. However, it will be the convenience that trumps the disadvantages.
Retailers can return their rented NETs machine soon…hehehe. Be warned that this will also mean your ezlink may be target of thieves and robbers so kindly refrain from topping up more then you need for your daily consumption to prevent unfortunate event of being “plundered”.
Do put your ezlink near the location where you can easily see and not at the back of your pocket, the use of portable ezlink machine zapping your $$$ off is remote but remain a possibility.
I now will make another recommendation to ezlink is to sell portable ezlink balance monitoring “key chain” or have such equipments in more public places other then MRT stations. This is to facilitate easy checking the balance of the ezlink card anytime before going out for “GREAT SINGAPORE SALE!!” haha…
Wish that ezlink don’t charge extra for retailers to use the ezlink reader device so that the business can give discounts to ezlink users! ^_^
Slogan for retailers I can think of is…
“ezlink inside”
“ezlink included”
“Just tap it, ezlink”
“Cut your Credit Nets Cards, ezlink Accepted”
“Pay the ez way, ezlink”
“I’m Tapping It, ezlink”
“tap tap tap…never been easier, ezlink”
