TRANSLINK customers will soon be able to use Interac Debit to hop on transit. TransLink, Interac Corp., and Cubic Transportation Systems are working together to integrate Interac Debit onto the system to give customers more contactless payment options.
By the end of 2022, TransLink customers will be able to pay with Interac Debit at Compass readers on any bus or fare gate across the system. This puts TransLink on pace to be the first transit agency in Canada to fully integrate Interac Debit contactless payments across a regional transit system.
Tap to Pay offers casual transit riders and tourists a convenient way to pay; allowing users to pay with Interac Debit directly to ride without pre-purchasing a Compass Card and without having to use an in-station Compass Vending Machine. The addition of Interac Debit will further broaden options and convenience for customers, says TransLink.
Over 5,000 Compass readers across TransLink’s expansive network will need to be upgraded to ensure compatibility with debit cards enabled with Interac Debit contactless payments.
TransLink, Interac, and Cubic Transportation Systems – the company that designed and built TransLink’s Compass system – are working to upgrade the readers over the next year.
Once integrated, customers will be able to pay at Compass readers by using Interac Debit, in addition to other already available contactless payment options like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay Wallet.
TransLink reminds customers to tap their card or smartphone when paying for transit and not their wallet, to avoid card clash when paying.
Kevin Quinn, CEO, TransLink, said on Tuesday: “Integrating Interac Debit contactless payments across our system in Metro Vancouver is another way we’re making it easier for customers to take transit. TransLink was the first transit agency in Canada to commercially launch contactless credit card and mobile payments, and it’s important that we continue to be innovative to make transit an even more attractive transportation option.”