Buzzer logo

TransLink news, commentary, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Tapping to transfer with Compass

Tapping to transfer with Compass

Here’s a question that’s come up a lot lately: “What happens if I tap in with my Compass Card, but don’t complete my journey within 90 minutes?”

To answer this question, we consulted our Compass Wikipedia. First and foremost, it’s important to distinguish the difference between “transfer time” and “in system time.”

Transfer time is the time you have from when you tap in to start your journey to when you tap in for the final leg of your journey. In the Compass world, the transfer time is 90 minutes, which means you can make as many transfers as you need within 90 minutes and only be charged for one fare. However, if you tap in after the 90-minute transfer time, you’re starting a new journey and will be charged a new fare.

In system time is the time you have on any leg of your journey. In the Compass world, the in system time is 120 minutes, which allows you 120 minutes to complete a single leg of your journey. However, if you don’t tap out during in system time, your journey will automatically expire and a tap after that will require a new fare.

What? Transformer time? Can I have my Compass Card? Did I tap out? Ah…I don’t get it!

Still confused? Here’s an infographic that might explain it better:

compass_transfer_time
Transfer time vs. In system time

You can make as many transfers as you need on buses, SkyTrains, SeaBus, and West Coast Express within the 90-minute transfer time and only be charged for one fare.

Once you tap in to the last leg of your journey, you have another 120 minutes to complete the journey and tap out.

Still have questions? Ask away at AskCompass.ca

TransLink

Sorry, your website browser is no longer supported.

Upgrade to one of these browsers to visit translink.ca: