Anyone who lives in the Community of Madrid has surely taken the so-called green buses more than once. Moncloa, Conde de Casal, Plaza de Castilla… are in charge of connect the entire community with all municipalities. In fact, there are more than 22,000 kilometers of lines that are about to be updated.
The contract with the companies and the current map dates back to 2009 and, after some extension, the next Fourth of July we will know more details about the modifications of the lines and the renewal of concessions to companies. The result will be an updated map with new routes and the arrival of card payment and Apple Pay on board.
If you have a transport card you can now recharge it with your iPhone
If you are a regular user of public transport, you will have a transport pass or a multi-trip card. The typical Red card that allows you to use a good part of public transport from Madrid. You can recharge this card with your iPhone. This way, you can see how much time or trips you have left and recharge it from your home without having to go to a subway or tobacconist’s machine.
EMT buses already accepted payments with Apple Pay
For years, the EMT urban buses in Madrid capital (the characteristic blue buses) allow payment of single tickets using contactless cards, and therefore also the possibility of using Apple Pay. This option has considerably facilitated the travel experience both for users, who can pay quickly, and for drivers, who benefit from a more agile and efficient payment process.
Payment with Apple Pay on the EMT bus in Madrid
Now card payment will arrive on Madrid intercity buses
The next to join the card payment system will be the intercity buses in Madrid (the green ones). This modification of payment methods It will be reflected in the approval of the preliminary projects that will take place on July 4 after the meeting of the board of directors of the Regional Transport Consortium.
It will be from that date when we will know in more detail the total implementation of the possibility of payment by card, modifying validating machines or adding a POS unit on all bus models. This means that only the Madrid Metro would have to adopt card payments for single tickets. It should be noted that all these payments are contactless and Valid for physical cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.. It is not a total integration like other cities in the world have within the iPhone.
In cities like London, Apple Pay is integrated into the transportation system.
We are talking about cases like London, a city in which it is not even necessary to have a transport pass since the entire public transportation system is smart and calculates the rates based on the entry, exit, etc. station, applying a maximum payment limit per day. That will be the next step.although it is a great advance not having to pay in cash on a bus and depend on the change available in the cabin.
Cover image | Flickr