Apple Pay Express Transit Coming to London 'in the Coming Months'

Apple is working closely with London's transport network (TfL) to enable Apple Pay Express Transit, a feature which allows riders to pay their fare without needing to wake or unlock their device, or authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

Image credit: TfL
"We are having positive discussions with Apple about enabling express transit on Apple devices on the TfL network," a TfL spokesperson said in a statement given to The Verge. "More information about timing and plans will be available at a future date."

TfL's Twitter account also noted that the company is "working closely with Apple to allow the benefits of this update to be introduced on London’s transport network in the coming months."

Users of London's transport network can already use ‌Apple Pay‌ for ride purchases at Oyster terminals and gates, but they must first authenticate with Face ID, ‌Touch ID‌, or passcode. Express Transit would change all that with its tap-and-go system, speeding up entry into subway and train stations in the process.

‌Apple Pay‌'s Express Transit mode can be used on iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or ‌iPhone‌ 6s Plus or later, and Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 or later. Owners of iPhone XS, ‌iPhone XS‌ Max, and iPhone XR can also use Express Transit in power reserve mode, which is available for up to five hours when an ‌iPhone‌ needs to be charged.

Apple introduced Express Transit in iOS 12.3, which was released earlier this month. London would join a handful of cities with transit systems that support the express ‌Apple Pay‌ feature, including Beijing, Shanghai, Portland, and New York City (from Friday). Express Transit also works for Suica cards in Japan.