The Bee Network have launched a more seamless and convenient way for passengers to pay and travel on public transport.
Today (Monday 18 August), the Bee Network have introduced Express Mode, allowing people travelling on the region’s buses and trams using an iPhone or Apple Watch.
When travelling on public transport residents using Apple Pay will not need to wake or unlock their iPhone or Apple Watch, ore or even open an app when paying to ride.
The aim of the new Express Mode will hope to make it more convenient way for residents to travel around Salford, and Greater Manchester.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “We are making great strides in making the Bee Network more reliable and easier to use.
“A key part of that is helping people pay in a way that suits them – and technology is a real enabler to that, which is why we’re excited to bring Express Mode to our Apple Pay customers.”
Burnham continued: “Following the hugely successful launch of tap and go, I am delighted that the Bee Network will become the first integrated public transport system in the country outside of London to offer Express Mode.
“Not only does it make using our buses and trams even easier and quicker than it is now, but it will also help us to unlock even more ways for people to travel in the future using their iPhone and Apple Watch,” he added.
The newly launched Express Mode, will allow customers to set a credit or debit card in Apple Wallet as a default transit card by opening the Apple Wallet app, tapping the ‘More’ button, selecting ‘Card Details’ and choosing ‘Express Travel Settings’ before selecting the payment card they’d like to use with Express Transit.
Once enabled, residents can hold their device near the card reader to pay and ride – no authentication of Face ID or Touch ID will be required.
Riders can change or manage their default Express Mode card at any time within the Apple Wallet app.
For added convenience, power reserve on iPhone enables customers to still use their device to pay even if their device needs a charge.
The launch of Express Mode for Apple Pay users comes following the hugely successful introduction of contactless ‘tap and go’ to the Bee Network in March.
‘Tap and go’ has encouraged seamless bus and tram travel for users, with the best value fare automatically calculated up to the daily or weekly cap — with over 1 million contactless journeys now made on the Bee Network every week.
Following the launch, Director of Customer and Growth at TfGM, Fran Wilkinson said: “We are committed to making travelling on the Bee Network as simple and convenient as possible.
“We’ve listened to feedback, and we’re really excited to introduce Express Mode to our Apple Pay customers.
“It’s very easy to set up, and we look forward to welcoming our first passengers who use it onto the Bee Network.”
Residents have also been made aware that when paying to ride public transport with Apple Pay takes full advantage of the privacy and security built into iPhone and Apple Watch.
However, Apple will never track users’ journeys, and when customers add a credit or debit card to Apple Wallet.
The card information is encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element, an industry-standard, certified chip designed to store the information safely on the device.
More information about the newly launched Express Mode can be found here.
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