Skip to main content

Philadelphia’s transport system moves to contactless payment

US-based Xerox has been awarded a contract worth US$122 million to provide Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) with a contactless fare collection system. The system, which is to be installed on regional trains as well as buses, trolleys and subways, uses credit or debit cards to collect fares. Philadelphia is home to the USA's sixth largest urban transit network which clocks up 1.1 million journeys per day. Users of the network will soon be saying farewell to cash, metal tokens and
October 8, 2012 Read time: 1 min
US-based 4186 Xerox has been awarded a contract worth US$122 million to provide 4288 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) with a contactless fare collection system.  The system, which is to be installed on regional trains as well as buses, trolleys and subways, uses credit or debit cards to collect fares.

Philadelphia is home to the USA's sixth largest urban transit network which clocks up 1.1 million journeys per day.  Users of the network will soon be saying farewell to cash, metal tokens and magnetic cards and will be using their contactless credit or debit cards as travel passes and for fare payment.

"Philadelphia was very interested in the full-scale experiment we began back in 2010 on the New York metro and New Jersey buses", recalls Marc Gordon, Vice President, Xerox public transit services and project manager in Philadelphia.

Related Content

  • July 28, 2014
    London transport to get contactless payment
    Millions of customers are set for easier and more convenient journeys from 16 September, when Transport for London (TfL) will introduce contactless payments for all pay as you go customers on the Tube, London Overground, DLR and trams in addition to the capital's buses. The new option means that passengers will no longer be any need to top up Oyster card balances because fares are charged directly to payment card accounts. Contactless payments - credit, debit, charge or pre-paid cards or devices - work i
  • January 22, 2025
    Greek chorus welcomes contactless payment on Athens metro
    Buses, trolleybuses, metro and trams join airport express in Tap2ride programme
  • June 22, 2023
    Septa launches bus lane enforcement pilot in Philadelphia
    Camera system has been mounted in seven buses in Pennsylvania city
  • November 22, 2017
    MBTA chooses Cubic to deliver next-generation fare payment system
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been selected by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to install a fare payment system for the region’s multi-modal transit system to allow payment flexibility for customers. The base contract award includes an approximate $575 million (£433 million) for implementation with ten years of operations and maintenance as well two five-year extension options. The agreement also involves a public-private partnership, in which Cubic and John Laing will