Osaka Metro to phase out magnetic tickets by around fiscal 2031: report
The rail operator plans to completely replace magnetic tickets with QR code ones, which it already uses.
Osaka Metro intends to discontinue magnetic tickets and transition to QR code tickets by around fiscal 2031, according to a local media report on Wednesday. The announcement came as passengers currently insert magnetic tickets into fare gates for entry and exit on train platforms. The new system requires scanning QR code tickets instead.
Eliminating magnetic tickets will also prevent ticket jams. The rail operator already has QR code readers installed on ticket gates for those who use digital tickets via its smartphone app. The plan to phase out magnetic tickets will be included in a midterm business plan to be released soon, as reported by the Yomiuri Shimbun. Osaka Metro has not officially announced the change.
Most passengers already utilize integrated circuit (IC) cards, such as Icoca, Pitapa, Suica, and Pasmo, when riding trains. Other railway operators are also planning to switch from magnetic to QR code tickets. In June, East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, announced it would replace magnetic short-distance tickets with QR code tickets in spring 2027.
Seven other rail operators in the Tokyo metropolitan area have already announced their plans to phase out magnetic tickets and switch to QR code ones by the end of next March and later.
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