Travelcard

Transport authorities in Athens are stepping up their efforts to broaden the use of electronic travelcards by commuters despite the challenges the network is facing three months since the new ticketing system became fully operational.

Commuters in Athens will be able to swap their paper tickets for smart cards similar to those used on public transport systems in other European cities in December 2016.

Transport authorities in Athens announced on Wednesday that 56 lines will see the introduction of a measure whereby passengers can only board buses and trolley buses by the front door.

The measure has been introduced as part of efforts to clamp down on fare dodging.

Passengers will only be allowed onto a bus if they show the driver a ticket or travelcard.

There will be a change in ticket prices on Athens’s public transport system from Monday, when some new tickets will also be made available to commuters.

A new set of travelcards, covering three- and six-month periods, are due to be made available to commuters in Athens.

Until now only weekly, monthly and annual travelcards had been on offer.

Deputy Transport Minister Michalis Papadopoulos signed a decision on Wednesday that will see the new cards, which will cost between 58 and 248 euros, come into use.

A new smartcard system that will be installed on the public transport network in Athens will lead to passengers being charged according to the distance their journey covers, which will lead to some commuters paying less than they do now and others more.