SEPTA Rolling Out Apple Pay With Express Mode in Philadelphia Area

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) this week announced that it has started upgrading its payment readers with support for Apple Pay with Express Mode. This feature allows transit users to pay for their fare by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader, without needing to unlock or wake the device.

SEPTA Apple Pay Express Mode
The upgrades began rolling out on Monday across select SEPTA Metro stations and buses in the Greater Philadelphia area, according to the announcement.

Express Mode for SEPTA is limited to credit and debit cards added to the Wallet app. It is still not possible to add the SEPTA Key fare card to the Wallet app, and Express Mode does not support SEPTA's discounted weekly or monthly passes.

More details can be found on the SEPTA website.

(Thanks, Stephen Klinck!)

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

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Top Rated Comments

fireguy286 Avatar
9 months ago

Good on Septa. Long overdue. I had a Septa Key Card back a few years ago when I would travel into the city on regional rail on occasion and it was kinda a PITA.

Anymore, I drive into the city for my appointments. By the time I wait for the train, and make my way back the constraints on my schedule just don't fit the operational tempo of my current lifestyle.

However, I'm an admitted rail fan and will occasionally ride the trains here and there simply for the sake of doing so. I've ridden just about the entire regional rail and subway system. Haven't spent any time on the trolly system yet, but this is overdue.
You'll still need that Key Card for RR. This is bus and metro/subway only, NOT regional rail - and you can't even use the silly KEY Card as the debit card for Express.


Like most things SEPTA it's half baked and a decade late.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
9 months ago

Excellent! One needs "express mode" to get out of Philly as fast as possible! ??
Maybe you heard, but.

We’re from Philly. Frickin’ Philly.

No one likes us, we don’t care.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GaryGnu Avatar
9 months ago

Maybe you heard, but.

We’re from Philly. Frickin’ Philly.

No one likes us, we don’t care.
Considering we claim we don't care, we certainly say it often enough.
Olney born and raised!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
9 months ago
Good on Septa. Long overdue. I had a Septa Key Card back a few years ago when I would travel into the city on regional rail on occasion and it was kinda a PITA.

Anymore, I drive into the city for my appointments. By the time I wait for the train, and make my way back the constraints on my schedule just don't fit the operational tempo of my current lifestyle.

However, I'm an admitted rail fan and will occasionally ride the trains here and there simply for the sake of doing so. I've ridden just about the entire regional rail and subway system. Haven't spent any time on the trolly system yet, but this is overdue.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)