Go Cards to replace paper tickets

Manama

Route expansion work of Bahrain Public Transport Company (BPTC) will be completed by August 1, with the introduction of over 140 buses in 32 routes. In the meantime, the bus operator will also go eco-friendly by introducing smart cards instead of paper tickets.

The new cards were launched to the public during a five-day campaign to be held at Bab Al Bahrain. BPTC representatives were present at the spot to demonstrate its proper use and answer questions on the new routes and destinations added to the network. Go Card, the re-usable smart bus ticket will replace paper tickets, making the journey easier for the passengers.

The smart bus ticket is expected to make the journey comfortable for both drivers as well as passengers, as it will save a lot of time. So far, the passenger used to buy paper tickets from the driver while boarding the bus. Selling tickets as well as tendering change used to consume a lot of time during journey, wasting valuable time of passengers as well as buses. But the introduction of smart bus tickets will bring relief to passengers, as they just need to punch the card into the readers placed at the entry and exit of buses.

According to Mark Kipling, Director of BPTC, “Smart ticketing is a vital component of this project and crucial in elevating Bahrain’s public transport system, and enhancing the passenger journey.  

The passengers will have to check-in while they board the bus and similarly they are supposed to check-out while alight the bus. The check-in machines have been placed at the front door of the bus, while the check-out machines can be found at the centre door of the vehicle.

According to BPTC, the Go Cards are available with the bus driver, bus terminals as well as ticket vending machines. The passenger will have to pay 500 fils while obtaining the card for the first time. The card can be used as one-day ticket as well as for single journeys, after recharging it up to a maximum of BD50, said the bus operator. Special reloading machines will soon be available on every bus soon to enable top up of credit using cash notes.

BPTC has given extensive publicity to Go Cards since they are being introduced in the Kingdom for the first time. The operators have already started distributing leaflets in the buses, providing information about Go Cards. Information is also available on LCDs placed in buses. Hoardings have also been placed in some prime localities of the Kingdom, informing the Bahraini people about extended bus routes as well as the Go Card.