The Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM), the regional transport authority for the Barcelona metropolitan area, has launched a public tender for a new system that will allow passengers to pay directly with contactless bank cards or mobile devices on metro, bus, train and tram services.
Under the plan, users will no longer need to purchase a T-Mobilitat card or single-journey ticket in advance. Instead, they will tap a credit or debit card, or a compatible smartphone, at validators when boarding and alighting to automatically calculate and charge the correct fare based on distance and zones travelled.
The system will initially launch in Zone 1, the central area around Barcelona, before expanding to the full network of seven tariff zones. The ATM has confirmed that the tender process is expected to be resolved by the end of 2024, with a maximum integration period of three months after contract award.
The new system marks a significant step towards modernising access and encouraging public transport use in the city.
According to the ATM’s project documentation, the system will support major card networks including Mastercard, Visa, American Express, JCB, Discover and UPay. The technical platform will integrate with existing T-Mobilitat readers, upgrading them to accept EMV contactless payments.
The project is funded by European Next Generation funds and has been contracted for €2,004,000. Work is scheduled to begin in January 2025 and conclude by the end of June 2026, according to the project’s justification report.
Gradual rollout expected through 2027
While the technical rollout is due to finish mid-2026, the ATM and government sources indicate the full public launch will occur during 2027, allowing time for testing and system calibration. The authority describes the implementation as a "long process" and stresses that the current tender, while essential, is not the only step required.
The move follows the existing capability on Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) buses, where contactless bank card payments have been available since drivers stopped selling paper tickets after the pandemic.
Passengers will still be able to use the T-Mobilitat card, season tickets and other existing travel passes. The new option will primarily benefit occasional users and visitors who currently face barriers to entry with the current ticketing system.
Partnership structure and funding
The ATM is jointly governed by the Catalan regional government (Generalitat), which holds a 51% stake, and metropolitan municipalities, including the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), with 49%. The project is co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) under the REACT programme.
More information about the project is available on the ATM's official REACT programme page.
Reported by beteve.cat, Àlex Rebollo,Pau Lizana Manuel, Carla Stavraky, atm.cat, La Vanguardia, licitaciones.io, Consorci de l'Autoritat del Transport Metropolità, Betevé.
