Moscow Metro launches Face Pay test

Face Pay will be used on Moscow Metro for the first time

Moscow Metro has launched a test of Face Pay, which will allow its passengers to pay for transport via facial recognition. The city’s Department of Transport says the technology will be trialled on Line 4 to begin with, and will involve a focus group consisting of 1,000 citizens, with the figure set to grow as the test expands to all the lines.

In order to become a part of the project, the Moscow Department of Transport says passengers should apply on its website. Those selected will be able to pass through gates with a special black sticker with facial recognition and transfer to the Moscow Central Circle and Moscow Central Diameters free of charge. The Department says those taking part in the test also have the right to withdraw from the project at any time. The personal data of the participants is securely stored and is not shared with anyone, claims the authority.

“We are starting the most important stage of the Face Pay testing — involving our passengers. Metro employees already use this service and have made more than one million successful payments with it. We will test this technology gradually, from line to line, starting with Line 4,” said Deputy Mayor for Transport Maxim Liksutov.

Previously, Moscow Metro claimed it had managed to reduce the queues at ticket offices by 3.3 times due to development of contactless payment technologies – time will tell whether the test will be successful or not, but as riders begin to return to metro systems around the world, the advent of face payment could ease congestion and crowding.