Taipei Metro to accept credit cards and mobile pay starting July 1

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) Starting Wednesday, travelers can ride the Taipei Metro using physical credit cards or digital wallets linked to such cards, but these transactions will not qualify for the "frequent rider" reward program, according to the company Tuesday.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) attended a news conference on Tuesday to announce the launch of the Taipei Metro's new multi-payment initiative for the MRT system, describing the move as intended to align the city with international trends.

Taipei Metro operates a six-line network that extends into New Taipei, serving as the primary transit backbone for the Greater Taipei metropolitan area.

According to the company's news release, the MRT system will accept major international and domestic credit cards -- including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club -- and digital wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

This initiative follows the January rollout of QR code payments, which allows passengers to use major electronic payment platforms to board buses and MRT trains in Taipei and New Taipei.

Over the past six months, the QR code payment system has recorded over 1 million rides, Maggie Pao (包國儀), CEO of the Retail Banking Group at Taishin International Bank, which partners with Taipei Metro on the initiative, said at the news conference.

Over 80 percent of those using QR code boarding are aged 35 or under, indicating that digital wallet payments have become mainstream among youth, according to the bank.

Meanwhile, Taipei Metro noted in its release that credit card payments are ineligible for the "frequent rider" reward program, which provides rebates based on monthly ridership, citing security rules that prohibit the transit system from storing individual bank card numbers.

Taipei Metro also noted that iPhone users can enable "Express Transit" in their Apple Wallet, allowing them to tap their iPhone at the gate to pass through without unlocking the device -- a feature currently exclusive to Apple devices.