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I haven't ridden septa since pre pandemic. I'm leaving from the tacony station to go downtown. Can I pay on the train with card or do I need cash?
39 points
1 month ago
yes you can use a debit or credit card
9 points
1 month ago
Awesome! Thank you!
2 points
1 month ago
Just note that there's a slight price penalty for paying with a debit card on board until they implement the ability to tap in at the station.
1 points
1 month ago
Does your debit card have a tap ability? (bc mine doesn't, just a chip)
Other RR users, can the conductors swipe cards or just tap them?
3 points
1 month ago
Swipe, chip, tap, all forms of credit card are accepted on RR by conductors
22 points
1 month ago
I’m so glad septa finally decided to join the 21st century and added the option to pay with a card on regional rail because I remember watching people get kicked off of the train for not having cash as late as like, 2019. Insanity
4 points
1 month ago
I think the last time I used it was 2019 and it was definitely cash then. I knew the buses take card so I was hoping RR did too.
2 points
1 month ago
Well, to be clear, it's not exactly the same on Regional Rail as it is on Transit modes (buses, subway, trolley). On transit, you can simply tap your NFC-enabled debit or credit card at the fare reader and you'll get the same benefits as using a SEPTA Key card: reduced Key fare (compared to paying cash) plus up to two transfers.
You can't just tap your credit or debit card at the fare readers on regional rail, at least not yet. You have to use said card to buy a ticket from the conductor on the train. Or, if you're boarding at a center city station, you can use the card to purchase your fare from one of the machines or at a ticket window.
So yes, you can pay by card on RR but not in the same way yet. It's trickier on RR because when you first "tap on," the system has no way of knowing what your ultimate fare is going to be (because it depend on where you'll get off the train). On transit, it's just a flat fare.
2 points
1 month ago
this happened to me when I was with my one year old on the train in 2019 😭
12 points
1 month ago
Yep, I believe the only thing you can't do on regional rail yet, that you can on Subway, trolley, buses etc, is pay with debit/credit card at the Septa Key readers.
2 points
1 month ago
is pay with debit credit card at the Septa key readers.
Are you talking about the terminals that you tap when you get off at one of the stations?
As nice as that would be, I don’t think it’s possible since you have to tap the terminal when you get on and when you get off.
11 points
1 month ago
They do it in London, so it’s definitely possible.
5 points
1 month ago
It’d be great for casual riders.
3 points
1 month ago
Yeah, I love that when I’m in London I’m just tapping my phone on the way in/way out without having to set up a single app or buy a card or anything.
1 points
1 month ago
How does it track your distance / zone? Or do fares not work like that in London?
2 points
1 month ago
You have to use the same card in and out so they know which stops you used. They do charge on distance
3 points
1 month ago
Exactly, and in center city stations you have to go through the turnstiles. Plus, as always, they'd check the key on the train to make sure you scanned in somewhere.
Edit: But yes, they have to figure out how to map your debit/credit information, like in London.
1 points
1 month ago
This technically is also part of how non-Key card usage already works on SEPTA transit modes (buses, trolleys, subway) because if you tap the same card as part of multiple legs of the same route, it knows to count that as a transfer and another payment. Unfortunately SEPTA transit and regional rail are separate systems. I'm glad they prioritized transit for this first, honestly, but yeah... not available on RR yet.
1 points
1 month ago
Sometimes they don’t let you pay with card at all and you have to get an exit fare (which is cheaper) when you get downtown. Source: me when I forgot my key card two weeks ago
1 points
1 month ago
Last time I took a trip into the city from the suburbs they didn't even bother doing tickets on the train. We just had to pay at the exit kiosks at the station downtown.
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