Features

Special Report on Multi-transport cards

30 Aug 2010

HONGKONG

Name of the card: Octopus

Issued by: Octopus Cards

Octopus card

Where can you use it? The transport industry was the first to embrace the Octopus in 1997. About 95 percent of people in the city use the smartcard to pay for rides on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), trams, buses and ferries. You may also buy specially made wristwatches or key chains with the Octopus embedded in them. Cardholders enjoy discounted fares on the MTR.

Other functions: Envisioned as a multi-purpose stored-value card, the function of the Octopus has expanded beyond fare collection. It can be used for small-value payments in convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food chains and other retail outlets. It pays for cinema tickets and parking fees, among others. Hongkong residents who frequent Shenzhen can use their Octopus in DFS outlets and fast-food chains such as Cafe de Coral. In Macau, the KFC outlets on Rua do Campo and in Sands Casino accept smart-card payments.

Where is it available? The simplest option is to go to a MTR customer service centre at any MTR station. You can also add value there or in any convenience stores. Minimum top-up value is HK$50 (US$6.4).

Price: HK$150 (US$19) for a standard card for adults. The price is inclusive of a HK$50 (US$6) deposit, which will be refunded – together with the remaining value on the card – when it is returned at the customer service counter of any MTR station or any New World First Ferry pier. There is a refund handling fee of HK$7 (US$0.90) if the Octopus is returned within three months after the date of issue.

Website: www.octopus.com.hk

 

KUALA LUMPUR

Name of the card: Touch ‘n Go

Issued by: Touch ‘n Go, formerly known as Rangkaian Segar

Where can you use it? Known locally as “TnG”, this card can be used to pay for fares on RapidKL buses as well as train rides on the Kelana Jaya Line, KL Monorail, Ampang Line and KTM Komuter network.

Other functions: The smartcard is accepted as a mode of payment for small-value transactions in some fast food outlets, including Starbucks, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts and others. It is also used to purchase other items and services, such as petrol at Caltex stations. The card is the preferred mode of payment for parking and highway fees and can secure admission tickets to theme parks such as Aquaria KLCC and Desa Waterpark.

Where is it available? At 7-Eleven outlets, gas stations, pharmacies and other authorised “agents” around the city. It can also be purchased at TnG sales counters along major highways.

Price: MYR10 (US$3) for the card. Top-up value ranges between MYR20 (US$6) and MYR500 (US$156). For security reasons, the maximum value that a card can carry is MYR1,500 (US$468).

Website: www.touchngo.com.my

 

LONDON

Name of the card: Oyster

Issued by: Transport for London (TfL)

OysterWhere can you use it? On most public transport in Greater London, such as buses, the London Underground, Dockland Light Railways, Thames Clipper Riverboats and all suburban trains stopping in TfL’s zones 1 to 9, as well as a very limited number outside them. The Oyster card cannot be used on the Heathrow Express service.

Other functions: N/A

Where is it available? At underground stations, mainline train stations and selected convenience stores and news agents. Overseas visitors can pre-order an Oyster card before their arrival in the UK. It takes up to 12 days for the card to arrive. Visit http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk for details. Alternatively, it is available from local agents, such as VisitBritain tourist offices in certain key locations, visit www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14481.aspx for a list.

Price: Overseas travellers pay from £12 (US$17) upward for a pre-ordered Oyster card that’s delivered to them directly. Buying it at the destination will set you back by a £3 (US$4.6) refundable deposit. Top-ups are in £5 (US$7.7) increments.

Website: www.tfl.gov.uk

 

OSAKA

Name of the card: Kansai Thru Pass

Issued by: Surutto Kansai Association

Kansai Thru Pass

Where can you use it? On subways, private railways and buses throughout the Kansai region. This multi-transport pass is only available to visitors holding short-stay entry status. It enables them to tour Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto and visit Nara, Wakayama and Koyasan.

Other functions: A Kansai Thru Pass ticket opens the door to a slew of discounts on hotel accommodation, spa treatments, F&B services and more. Ticket holders also get discounts on admission fees at several attractions, such as museums around the city.

Where is it available? When buying it overseas, you can get it at travel agencies in countries including Hongkong, Australia, Germany, France and the US. In Japan, the multi-transport pass is sold at the Osaka International Airport Information Center, at several offices of the Osaka Visitors’ Information Center and at hotels such as the Miyako Hotel Osaka, Imperial Hotel Osaka and
Ramada Hotel.

Price: JPY3,800 (US$44) for a two-day ticket and JPY5,000 (US$58) for a three-day ticket.

Website: www.surutto.com

 

SEOUL

Name of the card: T-money Card

Issued by: Korea Smart Card Company

Where can you use it? The card can be used on local buses and subways in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi-do – the country’s most populous province.

Other functions: Register your T-money card online to get mileage points, which can be converted into T-money. The card can also be used as payment at many convenience stores, fast-food outlets, vending machines and even some cinemas and theatres.

Where is it available? Nearly all convenience stores, including GS25, while subway ticket booths sell T-money cards as well as top up existing ones.

Price: The basic card is KRW2,500 (US$2). The balance on the card, minus KRW500 (US$0.42), can be refunded any time.

Website: http://eng.t-money.co.kr

 

SHANGHAI

Name of the card: Shanghai Public Transportation Card (SPTC)

Issued by: Shanghai Public Transportation Card Company

Shanghai Public Transportation Card (SPTC)Where can you use it? SPTC is an accepted mode of payment on buses, metros, ferries, taxis and the airport maglev. It is interchangeable with the Wuxi Taihu Lake Transportation Card, the multi-transport pass used in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Other functions: You can use SPTC to pay for car park fees, gasoline charges and auto repair costs.

Where is it available? At selected convenience stores and banks throughout Shanghai, as well as all metro station service counters.

Price: The standard card has a CNY20 (US$3) refundable deposit. Cheaper, lower-tiered cards are available, but do not offer refunds. Reload value is in multiples of CNY10 (US$1.50).

Website: www.sptcc.com

 

SINGAPORE

Name of the card: Singapore Tourist Pass

Issued by: EZ-Link Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Land Transport Authority.

Singapore Tourist PassWhere can you use it: This is a version of the city’s ubiquitous EZ-Link card that residents use to pay for public transport and small-value transactions in retail and F&B outlets. Unlike the EZ-Link card, the Singapore Tourist Pass gives visitors to the Lion City unlimited rides on the MRT and LRT trains and basic bus services.

Other functions: It comes bundled with merchant offerings. Enjoy discounts and other perks at attractions such as Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park, to name a few.

Where is it available? At TransitLink ticket offices inside MRT stations at Changi Airport, Orchard, Chinatown, Bugis, Raffles Place, HarbourFront and Ang Mo Kio. The card can also be bought online for overseas delivery. The price of cards bought online includes a S$10 (US7.20) surcharge, which is basically a non-refundable deposit.

Price: S$8 (US$5.75) per day. Visitors have the option of buying a 1-day, 2-day or 3-day pass. The S$10 (US$7.20) deposit on locally bought cards is refundable if the card is returned within five days of the issue date.

Website: www.thesingaporetouristpass.com

 

SYDNEY

Name of the card: MyZone’s MyMulti1 Pass and MyMulti Day Pass

Issued by: New South Wales government

Where can you use it? The weekly MyMulti1 Pass offers unlimited bus, Sydney Ferry and inner city train travel, which is ideal for tourists visiting Sydney. Travellers coming on shorter stays may want to consider the MyMulti Day Pass, which allows unlimited travel across the CityRail network as well as on bus and ferry services.

Other functions: N/A

Where is it available? Tickets are available citywide from train stations, ticket machines, selected rail outlets and ferry terminals.

Price: A weekly MyMulti1 Pass costs A$41 (US$36) and a MyMulti Day Pass costs A$20 (US$18)

Website: www.myzone.nsw.gov.au

 

TOKYO

Name of the card: Suica Card

Issued by: East Japan Railway Company

Where can you use it: Exclusively for city visitors, the card is accepted for boarding the JR East train lines, the subway and Tokyo buses.

Other functions: It can be used for a variety of purchases, from dining and entertainment to fashion retail and others.

Where is it available? The Suica Card can only be picked up at the JR East Travel Service Centers located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Narita airport. Currently, travellers have the option of getting a Suica card bundled with a one-way N’EX airport train ticket from Narita to the Tokyo/Yokohama area.

Price: On purchase, the card has a pre-load value of JPY1,500 (US$16). The Suica + N’EX package costs between JPY3,500 (US$38) and JPY5,000 (US$54), depending on the N’EX cabin class category you choose. Prices are inclusive of a JPY500 (US$5.40) deposit.

Website: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html and http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html  

 

Reviewers: Kenny Coyle, Gigi Onag, Joy Zhou and Sarah Spaeth

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