MRTA Bangkok launched a trial of cEMV payment system
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) has launched a pilot to test EMV open-loop payment system on Blue and Purple lines to allow riders to pay by just tapping a credit card. The riders can use their Visa and Mastercard cards from any bank which uses a contact-free transaction system. This new EMV Open loop system will provide frictionless payment for locals, as well as visitors.
According to a Consumer Payment Attitudes study conducted by Visa, transit agencies can save money by using digital collection methods. Transit operators spend an average of 14.5 US cents of every physical dollar collected, compared to only 4.2 cents for every digital dollar. Further, the riders prefer to use digital payment as well:
- 64 percent of respondents prefer paying directly with their bank cards, such as debit and credit cards, for public transportation
- 71 percent prefer to pay using contactless cards and mobile payments
The key stakeholders are:
- Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) – The authority
- Bangkok Expressway and Metro – The concessionaire
- Krung Thai Bank – Development and installation of the card reader system and management of the fare payment system
- Cybersource
- Thales Transport
The MRTA has installed an EMV card reader in the 53 stations on the MRT Purple Line and Blue line for trial from the end of January 2022. It is expected that around 237,000 riders can avail the option. The pandemic had a big negative impact on the ridership and the agency is looking to provide journey experience to riders.
| Line | Pre-covid | December 2021 |
| MRT Purple Line | 75,000 | 37,000 |
| MRT Blue Line | 530,000 | 200,000 |
This is the first step towards offering an integrated journey experience. Earlier, the Ministry of Transport had proposed to launch Mangmoom (spider) card to be used on the BTS, MRT, Airport Rail Link, Highway and Bus systems in 2016. However, they could not launched the same.