First in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area! Launching the 'Relaxed Commuting with Credit Card Touch Campaign', a Congestion Relief Demonstration Experiment Utilizing the 'Credit Card Ride' Service
Tsukuba Express will launch a 20% early morning discount campaign starting May 11, utilizing contactless credit card payments to encourage off-peak commuting and reduce congestion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (5h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 00:55 (53 min after Collected)
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Ryo Watanabe, President and Representative Director), which operates the Tsukuba Express (TX), Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Koto-ku, Tokyo; Yukihiko Onishi, Representative Director, President and CEO; hereinafter "Sumitomo Mitsui Card"), JCB Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Takayoshi Futae, Chairman and CEO; hereinafter "JCB"), and QUADRAC Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Masayuki Takada, President and Representative Director; hereinafter "QUADRAC") will begin a demonstration experiment of a congestion relief measure utilizing the "Credit Card Ride" service (*) on the Tsukuba Express (TX) starting Monday, May 11, 2026.
In this demonstration experiment, we will implement the "Relaxed Commuting with Credit Card Touch Campaign," which offers a 20% discount off the regular passenger fare (in 10-yen increments) when entering from an eligible entrance station between the first train of the day and 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and exiting at an eligible exit station. Furthermore, this is the first initiative by a railway operator in the Tokyo metropolitan area to offer an early morning discount utilizing boarding data from the "Credit Card Ride" service through Sumitomo Mitsui Card's "stera transit" solution for public transportation.
On the Tsukuba Express (TX), the introduction of the "Credit Card Ride" service has been completed at all stations, and it can be used at approximately 40% of all ticket gates. Through this measure, which maximizes the use of payment infrastructure, we aim to improve the train environment and provide a relaxed commuting experience by having customers shift their travel to the early morning hours. Going beyond merely providing a means of transportation, we will support the establishment of a new commuting style where customers can "start their day comfortably."
(*) A boarding service using contactless payment via credit, debit, or prepaid cards, or smartphones set up with such cards.
■ About Tsukuba Express (TX) Initiatives
Tsukuba Express (TX) strives to provide services that support the enriched lives of all customers through their daily travel, such as promoting "off-peak" commuting to work and school. To meet diversifying lifestyles, we will continue to provide the high-quality, comfortable travel environment that each customer expects, and promote "transportation leveling" that encourages the dispersion of use by time of day to contribute to the further development of local communities.
"Transportation leveling" is directly linked to the efficient operation of railway assets and the optimization of capital investment, and is an important initiative that leads to improving the sustainability of the railway business in the medium to long term. Regarding this measure, we will verify the effect of transportation leveling through staggered commuting, and utilize it to consider a wide range of service rollouts, including the continuation of permanent measures in the future.
Reference: Congestion status during morning rush hours | Other information | TSUKUBA EXPRESS
■ Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
1. Name: "Relaxed Commuting with Credit Card Touch Campaign" ~Peace of mind with staggered commuting~
2. Implementation Period: Weekdays from Monday, May 11, 2026 to Friday, July 31, 2026
*Monday, July 20, 2026 (Marine Day holiday) is included.
3. Eligible Payments: Contactless payment with credit cards, etc.
(Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay)
4. Application Conditions: Enter from an eligible entrance station by 6:30 a.m. during the implementation period and exit at an eligible exit station.
5. Benefit Details: 20% discount from the regular fare.
6. How to Use:
- Eligible Stations (Detailed Conditions)
A 20% discount applies to the regular passenger fare (10-yen increment fare) when entering from an eligible entrance station and exiting at an eligible exit station.
- Applicable Time: Enter via contactless payment at the automatic ticket gate of an eligible entrance station between the first train of the day and 6:30 a.m. on weekdays.
- Exclusions: Exiting at a station other than the eligible exit stations, or traveling between eligible entrance stations.
- Fare Standard: Calculated based on the regular passenger fare (10-yen increments).
- Rounding: Fractions under 10 yen after discount calculation are rounded up.
- Pre-registration: Not required. Simply touch the dedicated terminal at the automatic ticket gate with an eligible credit card, etc., and the discount will be automatically applied if the conditions are met.
*The "pre-discount fare" is displayed on the dedicated terminal of the automatic ticket gate, but the "discounted fare" will be applied at the time of actual payment (deduction).
*You can check the fare after the discount is applied on the "Q-move" My Page (https://q-move.info/).
7. Usage Examples: Here are specific examples of the "savings" and "relaxation" of early morning travel based on current regular passenger fares.
Case 1: City center commuting model (From Tsukuba Station to Akihabara Station)
~Turn your travel to the city center from the starting station into personal time by taking advantage of the early morning "chance to sit down"~
- Regular passenger fare (10-yen increments): 1,280 yen
- Campaign applied (20% discount): 1,030 yen (250 yen off)
In this demonstration experiment, we will implement the "Relaxed Commuting with Credit Card Touch Campaign," which offers a 20% discount off the regular passenger fare (in 10-yen increments) when entering from an eligible entrance station between the first train of the day and 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and exiting at an eligible exit station. Furthermore, this is the first initiative by a railway operator in the Tokyo metropolitan area to offer an early morning discount utilizing boarding data from the "Credit Card Ride" service through Sumitomo Mitsui Card's "stera transit" solution for public transportation.
On the Tsukuba Express (TX), the introduction of the "Credit Card Ride" service has been completed at all stations, and it can be used at approximately 40% of all ticket gates. Through this measure, which maximizes the use of payment infrastructure, we aim to improve the train environment and provide a relaxed commuting experience by having customers shift their travel to the early morning hours. Going beyond merely providing a means of transportation, we will support the establishment of a new commuting style where customers can "start their day comfortably."
(*) A boarding service using contactless payment via credit, debit, or prepaid cards, or smartphones set up with such cards.
■ About Tsukuba Express (TX) Initiatives
Tsukuba Express (TX) strives to provide services that support the enriched lives of all customers through their daily travel, such as promoting "off-peak" commuting to work and school. To meet diversifying lifestyles, we will continue to provide the high-quality, comfortable travel environment that each customer expects, and promote "transportation leveling" that encourages the dispersion of use by time of day to contribute to the further development of local communities.
"Transportation leveling" is directly linked to the efficient operation of railway assets and the optimization of capital investment, and is an important initiative that leads to improving the sustainability of the railway business in the medium to long term. Regarding this measure, we will verify the effect of transportation leveling through staggered commuting, and utilize it to consider a wide range of service rollouts, including the continuation of permanent measures in the future.
Reference: Congestion status during morning rush hours | Other information | TSUKUBA EXPRESS
■ Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
1. Name: "Relaxed Commuting with Credit Card Touch Campaign" ~Peace of mind with staggered commuting~
2. Implementation Period: Weekdays from Monday, May 11, 2026 to Friday, July 31, 2026
*Monday, July 20, 2026 (Marine Day holiday) is included.
3. Eligible Payments: Contactless payment with credit cards, etc.
(Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay)
4. Application Conditions: Enter from an eligible entrance station by 6:30 a.m. during the implementation period and exit at an eligible exit station.
5. Benefit Details: 20% discount from the regular fare.
6. How to Use:
- Eligible Stations (Detailed Conditions)
A 20% discount applies to the regular passenger fare (10-yen increment fare) when entering from an eligible entrance station and exiting at an eligible exit station.
- Applicable Time: Enter via contactless payment at the automatic ticket gate of an eligible entrance station between the first train of the day and 6:30 a.m. on weekdays.
- Exclusions: Exiting at a station other than the eligible exit stations, or traveling between eligible entrance stations.
- Fare Standard: Calculated based on the regular passenger fare (10-yen increments).
- Rounding: Fractions under 10 yen after discount calculation are rounded up.
- Pre-registration: Not required. Simply touch the dedicated terminal at the automatic ticket gate with an eligible credit card, etc., and the discount will be automatically applied if the conditions are met.
*The "pre-discount fare" is displayed on the dedicated terminal of the automatic ticket gate, but the "discounted fare" will be applied at the time of actual payment (deduction).
*You can check the fare after the discount is applied on the "Q-move" My Page (https://q-move.info/).
7. Usage Examples: Here are specific examples of the "savings" and "relaxation" of early morning travel based on current regular passenger fares.
Case 1: City center commuting model (From Tsukuba Station to Akihabara Station)
~Turn your travel to the city center from the starting station into personal time by taking advantage of the early morning "chance to sit down"~
- Regular passenger fare (10-yen increments): 1,280 yen
- Campaign applied (20% discount): 1,030 yen (250 yen off)