Metro do Porto to add support for contactless payments
Public transportation users in the Portuguese city of Porto will be able to begin using their bank card to tap on and off metro and tram services from the second quarter of 2020, Metro do Porto has announced.
Contactless payments will initially be available on a pilot basis on Metro Line E, which serves Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, and on the city’s tram services.
In a statement quoted by Lusa, a news agency, TIP states that this “groundbreaking” project in the country “will enable contactless debit or credit card to be an alternative to the Andante travel card”, similar to what already exists in cities like London, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, and New York.
Availability is then due to be expanded “later” to all the metro, bus, and local train services that currently accept the city’s Andante transit card.
6 different lines and more than 80 stations (and counting) make the equation of Metro do Porto. Many of the stations are on the street level and have absolutely no barriers to get in. And this barrier question repeats on the inside, so be aware that you must validate your journey ticket before getting in the train (most distracted ones might forget it).
Where to Buy “Andante” card
Almost everywhere in the city: Airport (if you just arrived and somehow have your trip programmed, it’s a good option), Train and Metro Stations, Pay Shop Agents (look for the red flags on newspaper sellers, buildings or coffees), and the automatic machines – most of them at the stations themselves. During your stay, you will only need one Andante card (0,50€), which you will charge with as many journeys as you need. One journey will cost you 1,20€ and, if you buy 10 journeys at once, you will get 1 extra for free. You can pay cash or use your credit card.
Porto will be the first city in Portugal to introduce contactless card payments on its public transportation network, Metro do Porto says.
