RapidKL GPS Buses

RapidKL is converting all its buses to be GPS enabled so that Touch N Go cards can be used instead of having to buy tickets from the driver. The Touch N Go cards are the same ones which can be used for the road tolls and not the monthly Rapidpass.

I bought my Touch N Go card for the LRT as at that time it couldn't be used on the buses. But now that the RapidKL buses are getting GPS this LRT Touch N Go card can be used for the buses.

GPS system on the RapidKL bus. It detects where the bus is for charging the fare.

Surprisingly though the card no longer works for the LRT. There's a beep and an error if touched at the LRT turnstiles. So I've had to use the old stored value LRT ticket.

When getting on the bus touch the Touch N Go card at the front detector. Your balance in the card will be displayed on the digital display. You will be charged the maximum fare at this stage. It could be RM2.50 or RM3.00 depending on how far the bus is from the endpoint of its journey. When alighting touch the card again on the detector either at the front or at the other one next to the rear door. Your card will now be charged the correct fare. If you forget to touch the card on the way out, you will be charged the maximum fare.

Rear touch detector.

If the bus is full such as in the mornings before work or in the evenings after work, you can go in by the rear door. You can then touch the card at the rear detector which will charge the maximum fare. On the way out touch the card again on the detector for the correct fare deduction.

You can also top-up your Touch N Go card on the bus. The top-up machine is at the front near the driver. If you don't have a card you can buy a new one here as well.

I think if reloading you don't have to touch the card on the smaller detector first before reloading. Because if you do you may get charged for a double trip. Simply reload the card by going to the reloading/purchasing machine and pressing the reload button, feeding the machine with your bank note and then touching the card on the machine. This should register that you have entered the bus. I found that on exit I was charged double fare when I touched the other smaller panel first before reloading.

Machine for reloading or purchasing a new Touch N Go card. Wrong usage may cost you double fare.

The GPS display next to the driver will show where the bus is. It updates as the bus moves along.

The Touch N Go GPS RapidKL buses have appeared on the Jalan Klang Lama route first. At the Taman Jaya—PJ Old Town route the buses do not have GPS yet. It is expected that by the end of March 2011 all the RapidKL buses will be GPS enabled for Touch N Go usage.