New SimplyGo app lets users top up, block older ez-link cards

It will also improve security, provide access to service to pay for ERP, carpark charges

- Esther Loi

Travellers can top up and activate card-blocking functions for their older card-based ticketing ez-link cards on their mobile phones, with the newly revamped SimplyGo app launched on Sept 6.

Other new features include access to the EZ-Link digital wallet for contactless in-store and online payments and the EZ-Link Motoring service, which allows motorists to pay their Electronic Road Pricing and carpark charges through locally issued Mastercard or Visa cards.

This consolidation of all functions available on the EZ-Link and TransitLink SimplyGo apps into one single app comes five days after TransitLink and EZ-Link merged into a single entity on Sept 1.

To top up older ez-link cards on the upgraded SimplyGo app, users have to turn on the near-field communication function on their mobile phones before tapping their physical ez-link cards on their mobile devices to complete the topup process.

With the revamped app, users of older ez-link cards can also use its auto top-up feature. A top-up is automatically activated once the balance on the travel card drops to $3 when the user exits any train gantry or bus.

Those who have misplaced or lost their older ez-link cards can use the card-blocking function on the new SimplyGo app, which will take up to 48 hours to take effect.

SimplyGo, a unified ticketing system by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), said in a statement on Sept 6 that the app revamp is part of its ongoing efforts to bring together all transit ticketing and travel card-related services into a one-stop touch point for travellers.

These services were previously housed on two separate apps.

In response to The Straits' Times queries, LTA said on Sept 6 that 71 per cent of adult fare transactions on public transport are made using SimplyGo.