Compass Card (TransLink)
 
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| Location | Lower Mainland region |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 2013 (beta) August 2015 (public) |
| Technology | |
| Operator | Cubic Transportation Systems |
| Manager | TransLink |
| Currency | CAD ($5 minimum through CVM purchase, $10 minimum online purchase, $175 maximum load) |
| Stored-value | Pay as you go |
| Auto recharge | AutoLoad (registration required) |
| Validity | |
| Retailed |
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| Variants | |
| Website | compasscard.ca |
Compass Card is a contactless smart card payment system primarily used for public transit in Metro Vancouver, Canada. It is operated by Translink.
Riders purchase a Compass card and fare value online, by phone, or at vending machines located at SeaBus terminals, SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations. Vending machines are also available at 18 participating London Drugs retail store locations.
Compass cards were deployed in August 2015. Full deployment for the general public took place on November 2, 2015.
Since April 4, 2016, Compass cards and tickets have been required for all trips taken on the SkyTrain and SeaBus.
In June 2016, Translink reported that 100 percent of monthly pass users and 95 percent of all other users have switched over to the new format, totalling more than 915,000 customers.
Users start by obtaining a Compass card from one of the vending machines located at SkyTrain, SeaBus, or West Coast Express stations, then add value to the card online, by phone, or directly at the vending machines. In late October 2015 cards became available from Compass vending machines at London Drugs stores. A card can be purchased at the customer service counter in any of these stores. Compass cards are also available for purchase wherever previous forms of transit fare media were available.
The current stored value for a card is available by submitting the "Compass No" at the Compass card website. These pages are not adapted to mobile device access and are not linked in the Translink website. For the user, the Compass number is not machine readable and must be submitted manually. If the user logs in, a history of usage and stored value can be viewed.
Once users obtain a Compass card with an adequate pass or an amount of stored value, they can tap in to enter a bus or transit station and tap out as they leave (except for buses). Tapping involves lightly touching the Compass card flat against a card reader.
Depending on the type of transit mode and vehicle the tap process differs slightly:
When a rider starts their trip by tapping in at Skytrain or Seabus, the system will automatically reserve enough fare for three zones. Tapping out at the end of a trip will ensure that riders are only charged the fare for the distance (in zones) travelled. Failing to tap out at the end of the trip may result in a rider being charged a full three-zone fare even if only travelling one or two zones. If the trip is started from a bus, the system will only deduct fare for one-zone.
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Wikipedia