Ding Ding! Thales eases payment for riders on Hong Kong trams

Travellers can now use contactless and QR codes rather than just Octopus cards or cash
By Adam Hill September 12, 2023 Read time: 1 min
Hong Kong's 'Ding Ding' trams have been operating for more than 100 years (© Lai Ching Yuen | Dreamstime.com)

The 150,000 passengers who use Hong Kong's iconic double-decker trams each day are now able to pay electronically for their rides - rather than just with cash or Octopus cards.

Thales, in partnership with Golong International Technology Company, has provided an integrated electronic payment system for Hong Kong Tramways' (HKT) 165 tramcars, which means 12 electronic payment means - including contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay and QR codes - are now available.

Thales’ new integrated solution includes software development, provision of Octopus and EMV QR back-office and hardware design to replace the existing payment system. The new all-in-one validators support EMV payment, QR payment and Octopus. Thales will also provide three years' maintenance service to HKT.

“Thales is delighted to develop this user-friendly and flexible payment system of the world's largest double-deck tram fleet in operation and, among others, the most environmentally friendly public transport in Hong Kong," says Jean-Marc Reynaud, VP, revenue collection systems, Thales.

HKT is wholly-owned by RATP Dev.

Classification & Data Collection Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Egis to operate on-street parking in Amsterdam
    October 22, 2015
    International group Egis is to provide the municipality of Amsterdam in the Netherlands with the operation of on-street parking services of the city, under a four-year contract with a possible four-year extension. Egis will replace the current operator Cition and will take over part of its existing staff. The contract involves an implementation period of six months after which the take-over of staff will become effective in 2016. Through the operator back-office, Egis will manage approximately 150,000 p
    Read More
  • PPP helps speed Chicago’s transit fare upgrade
    December 15, 2014
    David Crawford on a fast-tracked payment upgrade. This July saw the completion of the final stage of the implementation of Chicago’s new Ventra open fare payment system on the services of two of the region’s three transit providers, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and regional bus operator Pace. Ventra has been introduced to accept any contactless general purpose payment card, including personal debit and credit cards.
    Read More
  • Cubic, EY, support London’s contactless transport
    September 17, 2014
    Cubic Transportation Systems and Ernst and Young (EY) have spoken in support of Transport for London’s (TfL) introduction of contactless payments on Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services that accept Oyster.
    Read More
  • Eurosmart: nearly one billion contactless smartcards shipped in 2013
    November 18, 2013
    The global desire for solutions which combine convenience and security shows absolutely no sign of stopping, according to Eurosmart, the acknowledged voice of the smart security industry Revealing some dramatic figures at the opening of CARTES 2013 today, Eurosmart estimates that 7.2 billion Smart Secure Devices will be shipped by the end of this year, with that number growing by 7% to more 7.7 billion units in 2014.
    Read More

Highlighted Content