Starting Tuesday, October 29, Hankyu Railway will apparently launch a “ride service using credit card and other contactless payments.”
(This information was provided by Kagayaki No. 509 & Iroha @ Nishitsu SP, and Takuma.)
The images below are quoted from Ride Service Using Credit Card and Other Contactless Payments to Begin on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | News Release | Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Here it is ↓
Ride Service Using Credit Card and Other Contactless Payments
When does it start?
From Tuesday, October 29
Where is it available?
Hankyu Railway all 87 stations
What kind of service is it?
It’s a service that lets you pass through the ticket gates using credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, or smartphone contactless payments.
Just tap a supported card or smartphone on the dedicated reader and you’re good to ride. The fare for your route will be automatically charged to your card.
The machine looks like this ↓
This was at the south ticket gate of Shukugawa Station 😃 Right now it still says “Not available.” Apparently, “at least one ticket gate compatible with contactless payment will be installed at each gate area.”
Notes and details
- Only regular adult fares are supported (child fares and discount services cannot be used)
- Accepted card brands: Visa, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay
*Mastercard support is planned for the future - If you register as a member on the official website of the transportation payment service “Q-move,” you can check your usage history (for the past year)
For details about the service → click here
About Hanshin Railway
At most stations served by Hanshin Railway through services, such as Kobe Kosoku Railway, Kintetsu, and Osaka Metro, excluding Suzaki Station and Higashi-Naruo Station, it seems that for the time being you’ll need to let a station staff member know once when using contactless payment.
The photo shows an Akado car stopped at Higashi-Naruo Station. Photo taken: February 5, 2020
Please check here for detailed instructions. Also, on Hanshin Railway, contactless payment is scheduled to become available at automatic ticket gates from around spring 2025.
Finally
This credit card contactless payment service is being introduced to serve a wider range of passengers, including inbound visitors from overseas for events like the Osaka Expo. It’s true that it can be a hassle for overseas visitors to make an ICOCA card and end up with leftover balance 💦
*Kagayaki No. 509 & Iroha @ Nishitsu SP, and Takuma, thank you very much for the information!!
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