Due to “outdated 3G technology,” the operator of the Beep Card system has announced the removal of all e-load stations in all railway systems, namely LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. Beep has advised its users to use ticket vending machines or approach ticket counters for all transactions while it upgrades its Stored Value Updaters (SVUs) and Express Renewal Devices (ERDs).
Beep also said users can quickly check their balances and load their cards on their phones if they have near-field communication (NFC) capabilities. However, some Beep Card users point out that not everyone can afford an NFC-enabled smartphone, and that without the e-load stations, they would have to endure long lines at TVMs and ticket counters.
With the removal of the ERDs, other users are also concerned with extending their cards’ expiry dates, as the Beep Card can only be renewed through the ERDs. Beep Cards are valid for 4 years from the date of purchase and can be renewed at the ERDs for another year after expiry.
According to The Philippine Star, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the e-load stations will be upgraded and operational within the first quarter of the year.
In July 2025, the MRT-3 line launched cashless payments, allowing commuters to use GCash QR codes, Visa or Mastercard cards, and NFC-enabled Android phones at designated turnstiles. In August 2025, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said that cashless payments would be enabled in LRT-1 and LRT-2. As of this writing, however, neither LRT line accepts cashless payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beep removed all e-load stations across LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 due to “outdated 3G technology,” while it upgrades its Stored Value Updaters (SVUs) and Express Renewal Devices (ERDs), according to the operator’s announcement.
Beep advised users to use ticket vending machines or ticket counters for transactions. Users with NFC-enabled smartphones can also check balances and load their cards directly through their phones.
Beep Cards are valid for four years from purchase and can only be renewed through ERDs for an additional year after expiry. With ERDs removed, users have raised concerns about how to extend expiring cards during the upgrade period.
According to the Department of Transportation, cited by The Philippine Star, the e-load stations will be upgraded and made operational again within the first quarter of 2026.
No. Despite the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas announcing in August 2025 that cashless payments would be enabled on LRT-1 and LRT-2, neither line accepted cashless payments as of the article’s publication, unlike MRT-3, which launched cashless payments in July 2025.
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