Many are still unaware of the news, but admit that this system is more practical than the current one. Technology from Visa. 350 thousand euros were invested in Metro do Porto.
The new contactless payment system for airport travel is well received by passengers on the Porto Metro. The vast majority of users are still unaware of the news, but alternative payment has already helped some save time this Thursday morning. Upon arrival at the Campania station in Porto, already in the usual rush of days, passengers had to go to the loaders and buy tickets for the trip. If you had a contactless bank card, this was not necessary.
The validators of the STCP 500 buses, between Praça da Liberdade, Porto and Mercado de Matosinhos, also accept this payment method.
The measure, whose technology belongs to Visa, is currently available at airports, at the stations of Senhora da Gora, Casa da Música, Trindade, Campanhã, Bolhão, Campo 24 de Agosto, São Bento and Aliados. Whenever a trip is confirmed using a debit, credit, prepaid or contactless device (such as a smartphone or smartwatch), an amount of two euros will be charged as the payment method is for travel with the destination to the airport (name z4) and is valid. within one hour and 15 minutes.
João Cardoso, 65, as a metro user, admits that he paid for transport using a contactless system. “But I don’t even have a card,” admits a passenger from Lamego at his leisure in Porto. However, “if I had the opportunity, I would probably use it,” the passenger admits, adding that it would be a way to attract more people, even if he is not a regular user of public transport, since in the region where he lives , “there are not many of them.”
For 20-year-old ISMAI student Sarah Oliveira, “it would also be very easy to carry only a card with you and not bring any money.” A young woman, who usually uses a monthly pass, used tickets during the holidays, buying tickets according to her needs. On future trips, he admits that he would pay for contactless payments.
Metro will replace all validators
The system is installed only on the most recent validators (yellow accepts only titles, Andante cards or Anda app). Metro do Porto’s goal is to replace all validators. Also because, depending on joining this pilot project, the system can be installed across the entire network.
“We have already received the first prototype. [para novos validadores, como resultado de um concurso público] and the goal is to replace the entire Metro do Porto validator network, including in the two extensions already started. [Linha Rosa e prolongamento da Linha Amarela até Vila d’Este, em Gaia]… This equipment is already equipped with this technology and ensures that the development process of Intermodal Transports of Porto (TIP) as an integrator of ticketing solutions has room for growth and makes the process easier and more user-friendly, ”explained Thiago Braga, President. The Metro do Porto Board of Directors this Thursday morning at the opening of the event.
Metro investments in the implementation of this payment solution currently amount to about 350 thousand euros.
Gonçalo Lopes, responsible for Visa in Portugal, explains that “to buy a transport ticket, simply bring your contactless debit, credit or prepaid card to the validator”. “From the moment you approach, the ticket will be registered on this card, and the inspector will be able to verify, if this happens, that the ticket was purchased with this card.”
Visa has been working with TIP since 2017. “It took years of great technical work and market research to realize that consumers were really willing to embrace this type of technology. The acceleration that has occurred in contactless payments in recent months, since the pandemic, has led to the perfect moment to launch this launch, ”says the company in charge, believing that according to research,“ 60% of people who already use contactless technology, 43% say they would travel more by transportation if this technology was available. “
