3 ms·

Interesting. So there's no verification of the card validity at all? I assumed at least they took an auth hold like gas stations do. If I call and get my card b

Interesting. So there's no verification of the card validity at all? I assumed at least they took an auth hold like gas stations do. If I call and get my card blocked I can use that now-invalid card and ride for free? So why then are the EMV card readers so damn slow? Is it just a NFC vs FeliCa thing? The Tokyo metro system also supports paper (mag stripe) tickets through the same fare gates. Those are also spit through the gate super fast. On a failed read, the gates close nearly-instantly, I don't think they would actually aid in fare avoidance, you do see people run into them painfully when their card has too low balance.

noodlesUK 3y ago
From personal experience, if you use an EMV card that has been blocked on TfL services, you will sometimes be able to travel. I did this by accident once. I could see TfL repeatedly trying to debit my account with incorrect information for about a week. I doubt all of their readers are offline, and I suspect that a card gets blacklisted if it declines. I suspect this is also because they only charge at the end of the day once they have computed the correct fare (with capping etc)
- kalleboo 3y ago
  Interesting anecdote! Thanks. I would have definitely assumed that at least train gates (but not buses I guess) would attempt a hold!
PaulRobinson 3y ago
> On a failed read, the gates close nearly-instantly, I don't think they would actually aid in fare avoidance, you do see people run into them painfully when their card has too low balance. I'm talking about the instance where somebody doesn't even scan: they just walk through. That is possible in some stations in London, and it's perhaps not a coincidence that's where the worst fare avoidance occurs.
- nayuki 3y ago
  No, the Japanese fare gates have motion detectors. If you try to walk through without scanning, the gates close. I tested this once.
  - glandium 3y ago
    They don't close all the way, though, and it's easy to go through. But there's usually someone who would notice and stop you.

noodlesUK 3y ago

From personal experience, if you use an EMV card that has been blocked on TfL services, you will sometimes be able to travel. I did this by accident once. I could see TfL repeatedly trying to debit my account with incorrect information for about a week. I doubt all of their readers are offline, and I suspect that a card gets blacklisted if it declines. I suspect this is also because they only charge at the end of the day once they have computed the correct fare (with capping etc)

kalleboo 3y ago
Interesting anecdote! Thanks. I would have definitely assumed that at least train gates (but not buses I guess) would attempt a hold!

PaulRobinson 3y ago

> On a failed read, the gates close nearly-instantly, I don't think they would actually aid in fare avoidance, you do see people run into them painfully when their card has too low balance. I'm talking about the instance where somebody doesn't even scan: they just walk through. That is possible in some stations in London, and it's perhaps not a coincidence that's where the worst fare avoidance occurs.

nayuki 3y ago
No, the Japanese fare gates have motion detectors. If you try to walk through without scanning, the gates close. I tested this once.
- glandium 3y ago
  They don't close all the way, though, and it's easy to go through. But there's usually someone who would notice and stop you.