Taipei MRT Blue Tokens Eliminated in July, "QR Paper Single Journey Tickets" to Replace Them, Because of This Reason

Taipei Metro announced that the blue plastic tokens used for nearly 30 years will be completely phased out by July 2026, replaced by paper QR single-journey tickets and mobile payment options.
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The blue circular tokens, which have accompanied Taipei residents for decades on the metro, are now officially retiring. Taipei Metro announced this week that starting July 2026, all blue plastic tokens will be discontinued. They will be replaced by a thin paper QR single-journey ticket. From this week, ticket vending machines at all stations are officially selling the new tickets.

Image source: Taipei Travel Net

Why are tokens disappearing? Because “token washing” consumes too many resources

You might not have thought about it, but each small blue token is part of a whole recycling chain: regular collection, cleaning, disinfection, drying, and reuse—all of which consume water, electricity, and transportation resources.

Taipei Metro emphasizes that environmental protection is one of the reasons for phasing out the tokens. Additionally, since only about 2% of usage currently comes from tourists or passengers who forget their EasyCards, maintaining the tokens is no longer cost-effective.

However, tokens are not completely gone: tickets requiring identity verification, such as senior and child discounts, as well as some corridor tolls, will still use tokens.

How to use the QR tickets? Valid on the day of purchase only

The new paper QR single-journey ticket rules are straightforward: purchased and valid on the same day, automatically invalid the next day, with no cross-day retention. Tickets can be bought at vending machines on the spot or in advance via the “Taipei Metro Go” app using credit cards or mobile payments.

From cash to EasyCard, from EasyCard to contactless credit cards, and now to mobile payments, each step is fundamentally about “reducing friction from physical objects.” Taipei Metro is quietly retiring the real plastic token from the stage of history.