Description and operation of the IFS

Description

Transport Act 9/2003 of 13th June authorises the Territorial Transport Authorities (ATM -Autoridades Territoriales de la Movilidad) to develop the fare policies for their respective public transport services.

Therefore, one of the activities of the Camp de Tarragona Public Transport Consortium consists of developing a new fare system made up of the different public transport networks: urban services, administered by the different city and town councils; inter-urban services, administered by the DGPT; and train services, administered by Renfe.

The primary goal of the new integrated fare system is to work towards positioning collective transport as a single, comprehensive system that is competitive with private vehicle use, and to make the system more attractive to current and potential users.

A fare system that is easy to understand and based on principles which are accepted by local citizens will help to bolster the image of public transport in that it will help the various bus and train services to be perceived as a unified and integrated network.

Some of the primary aspects of the fare system are that it:

• Allows travel using different transport operators with the same fare option and without additional cost within the specified valid geographic area.
• Makes transfers easier and cheaper through validation systems that allow for free transfers.
• Creates a fare schedule that favours the frequent traveller (client loyalty).
• Facilitates the purchase of transport cards and fare options through a network of sales and recharging points.
• Standardises the information about available services.

The new integrated fare system

The Camp de Tarragona Territorial Transit Authority (ATM) is launching the integrated fare system in order to allow passengers to use the different transport systems (urban buses and inter-urban coaches) with a single card.

Advantages

This is a very simple system that makes it easier to get around Camp de Tarragona and which has considerable financial advantages. With this system passengers can go from their point of origin to their destination, transferring to other modes of transport when needed, without additional cost within a specified time period.

The specified time limits are:

• For one zone: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• For two zones: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• For three zones: 1 hour and 45 minutes.

What is a contactless smart card?

A contactless smart card is the platform on which the integrated fares are based. There are two types of card:

Personalised cards which show the name, surname(s), ID number and a photograph of the user on the back.

Anonymous cards that do not show any user information.

Where can I get the new integrated ATM card?

Personalised cards:

You can get a personalised card at the Customer Service Centre (CSC) of the ATM or by sending the request form you will find on the ATM website to the CSC. In the latter case, you will need to send a photocopy of your ID and an ID-sized photo. The card will be sent within a few days to your house. There is an issue fee of €3.

Anonymous cards:

You can get an anonymous card at the Customer Service Centre (CSC) of the ATM or at any of the points belonging to the ATM sales network (kiosks, tobacconists, and other locations), which you can find in the different towns and cities of Camp de Tarragona. There is an issue fee of €2.

How does it work?

It’s very easy. When you get on an urban bus or inter-urban coach, hold your card up to the card reader. The technology used for the ATM card does not require that you touch the card to the reader; by holding it up to the reader the system automatically subtracts the fare for your journey. Every time you transfer from one bus or coach to another, the card must be validated again. T-10, T-10/30 and T-50/30 cards allow you to make a maximum of three transfers using different modes of transport in a single journey at no additional charge.

How and where can I recharge my card?

You can recharge your card at the Customer Service Centre (CSC) of the ATM or at any of the points belonging to the ATM sales network distributed throughout the different cities and towns of Camp de Tarragona.

You can recharge a smart card any time before you have used the entire balance of the card or before it expires. However, if you want to change from one type of fare card for another, you have to wait until the card has a zero balance or expires.

How much will I save?

The ATM card provides you with freedom of movement, savings and convenience. Depending on what type of journey you take and what kind of fare card you charge, you can save from €0.83 to €2.85 per journey.

Examples:

A user making a journey within one zone using the T-10/30 ATM card will be charged €0.77 for the journey, including free transfers within the time limit.

A user making a journey between two zones using the T-50/30 ATM card will be charged €1.05 for the journey, including free transfers within the time limit.

A user making a journey in three zones using the T-MES card will be charged €1 for the trip, and will have the possibility of transferring to other buses or coaches for free.