The Netherlands has become the first country in the world to introduce nationwide public transport check-in and check-out using a smartphone or smartwatch without requiring passengers to unlock their device.
The new feature, called Express mode (or Fast payment for public transport on some Android devices), has been rolled out through OVpay, the country’s public transport payment system. It allows travellers to tap their phone or smartwatch on ticket readers and station gates without first authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode.
According to Translink, the company behind OVpay, the rollout has now been completed across almost the entire Dutch public transport network. The only exception is the buses and trams operated by HTM in The Hague, where the feature will be introduced later this year.
Optional feature for Apple and Android users
The Express setting is available on both Apple and Android devices but must be activated manually.
Travellers select a payment card in their digital wallet as their dedicated public transport card. Once enabled, that card is automatically used whenever the phone or smartwatch is held against an OVpay reader, without unlocking the device.
The feature only applies to public transport check-ins and check-outs. Payments in shops still require the normal authentication process, reducing the risk of unauthorised retail purchases if a device is lost or stolen.
Using Express mode is entirely optional. Travellers who prefer to continue unlocking their device before every journey can simply leave the feature disabled.
Digital OV card to follow
Later this year, the Express functionality will also become available for the digital OV card, which is expected to launch on smartphones and smartwatches. The digital version will complement the physical OV card introduced at the end of 2025 as the successor to the OV-chipkaart, which is scheduled to be phased out by the end of 2027.
Physical bank cards and the physical OV card already support contactless tap-in and tap-out without additional verification. The new Express mode extends the same convenience to travellers using mobile wallets.
How to enable Express mode
Travellers must activate the Express setting themselves before they can use the feature.
- On Apple Wallet (iPhone): Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Express Transit Card, then select the payment card you want to use for public transport. Users can choose a different card from the one they normally use for retail purchases.
- On Google Wallet (Android): Open Google Wallet, tap your profile picture, then go to Settings > Verification settings > Public transport payments. Turn off Verification required and select the payment card you want to use for public transport if necessary.
Once configured, travellers can simply hold their smartphone or smartwatch against an OVpay card reader or ticket gate without unlocking the device. The feature is known as Express mode on Apple devices and may appear as Fast payment for public transport on some Android devices.
