Littlepay has collaborated with Lisbon’s Metro to deploy a new contactless payment option for its riders, the company has announced.
In a statement it said Metro de Lisboa is implementing its ‘tap and ride’ transit payment infrastructure in an effort to increase the use of public transport in the city.
The core transit payment service is being provided by Littlepay in partnership with Indra for device validation as well as Cybersource and Unicre for local acquiring services. The infrastructure is designed to give operators a wide choice of ‘pre-integrated’ devices, however, new integrations can be made if required, the company said.
“Letting clients choose their own hardware is an integral part of what we do. If an authority wants us to integrate with a specific validator or card reader, we are more than happy to do it. This keeps us flexible and gives transit authorities the freedom to personalise the infrastructure according to their needs,” said Paul Griffin, Head of Commercial at Littlepay.
No more day pass?
The system covers Metro de Lisboa’s entire metro network incorporating a total of 56 stations across all four metro routes. With an annual ridership of 173 million, the move is expected to lead to a more seamless transit ticketing experience for locals, professionals and travel.
Each single trip will cost €1.50, with a daily cap of €6.50. Riders will no longer have to buy a day pass while their card will stop being charged once they reach the day ticket rate.
With Lisbon’s Metro approaching its 75-year anniversary in 2024, the modernisation of its ticketing syste comes as customers increasingly expect to be able to pay with their cards everywhere, including public transit.
Ariel Casado, Regional Manager of Western EU at Littlepay added: “We’re confident the move to contactless EMV will improve the passenger experience across the metro network and even in the whole Lisbon transit, in the near future. It’s been a fantastic journey, working with the Metro de Lisboa team in paving the way for more ticketing developments.”
