interviews by Nina Vaclavikova and Maximiliano Crocamo
The familiar mechanical punch used to validate bus tickets on Trieste’s public transport network has been retired as Trieste Trasporti introduces a new digital ticket validation system.
Passengers using paper tickets can now validate their fare by scanning the QR code on the ticket with electronic readers installed on buses. Multi-ride tickets can be validated in the same way.
The system also expands contactless payment options, allowing passengers to pay with bank cards or smartphones. At the end of the day, the technology automatically applies the lowest available fare based on the number of trips taken. The new devices also allow a single payment for up to 10 passengers.
To ease the transition, Trieste Trasporti has deployed onboard assistants to help passengers learn how to use the new system.
