How do contactless cards work on transport systems?


Ned Land

Midfield
I use a pre-paid travel card or a credit card to make tram journeys.

The card to use is placed near to a reader when boarding, but not when alighting at the journey’s end.

How does the system know how far I’ve travelled?
 
It doesn’t if you don’t scan at the end so it’ll assume you’ve been all over the shop

Not this shit again etc

Ah had on there’s no option to scan at the end?
 
Assuming we're talking about London:
  • Fixed price for a bus journey, regardless of distance
  • If on tube or rail in zones 1 to 8 (or whatever), you need to tap in/out. If you don't tap out, the maximum fare is assumed
  • Journeys are collated for the day and then you're billed for your usage (which is capped)
Even if you've not tapped out, you can register with your bank card online and correct your journey via the web (obviously, if you keep doing this then it will trigger potential fraud).
 

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