The Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) next-generation e-payment system for public transit, Symphony for e-Payment (SeP), is ready for implementation. The new system which is built on the Singapore Standard for Contact less ePurse Application (CEPAS), allows any smart card that complies with the standard to be used with the system and in a wide variety of payment applications.
With SeP, commuters will be able to use cards issued by any card issuer for transit purposes as long as the card complies with the CEPAS standard and includes the transit application. Commuters can eventually use CEPAS-compliant cards for Electronic Road Pricing payments in vehicles fitted with the new generation In-vehicle Unit, Electronic Parking System carparks and other electronic payment systems that support the CEPAS standard.
Unlike the existing ez-link card, the new CEPAS-compliant ez-link card will not have requirement for a travel deposit. Commuters will have full use of the stored value of the card for transit and non-transit purposes. To ensure commuters are familiar with the no-deposit feature and use of the CEPAS-compliant card, LTA is launching a public education programme for commuters from 2 December 2008.
Posters highlighting the no-deposit feature of the new card will be put up at MRT stations and bus interchanges/stops as well as on trains and buses. These posters also remind commuters to ensure that they have sufficient value in their cards to complete their journey before entering the transit system, and to top-up their cards when the balance is low (i.e. less than $5) as there is no travel deposit to tap on.
When SeP is launched this December 2008, the new system and the existing Enhanced Integrated Farecard System (EIFS) will run concurrently to allow commuters ample time to replace their cards.
REF:
http://www.lta.gov.sg/public_transport/pt_travel.htm#ezlink
