New cards and tickets will come into force in Sofia’s public transport from 2023. The details were explained in “The day begins with Georgi Ljubenov” by the director of the Center for Urban Mobility, Dimitar Dilchev.
The paper ticket stops being sold at Cgm cash desks from 1 January, but those who bought it earlier can use it until 1 March, when the vehicle punchers will be dismantled.
During this period, a paper ticket will only be sold by public transport drivers, but at the price of 2 lev instead of 1.60 lev. The paper ticket remains for those used to using it on the metro, but for BGN 1.60. can only be used for one trip.
Some of the new circulation documents have been available since September – annual card for pupils and students; monthly or annual pass at a discounted price for young people up to 26 years of age.
From 1 January 2023, timed tickets will be introduced and the validation of all transport documents will become mandatory for each journey.
“If an accident occurs during the journey, with your validated card you can prove that you have used this transport. In addition, Tsgm will receive more information about the times when journeys are made on certain lines, their transfers, in order to be able to make optimizations,” Dilchev stressed.
Electronic timetable tickets can be loaded on two types of plastic. 2, 3, 5, 10 tickets can be loaded onto this card at each CGM point and used as needed. 30+, 60+ tickets or a 24 or 72 hour card can also be loaded on plastic.
With a 30+ ticket, you can change an unlimited number of vehicles in Sofia within 30 minutes and in the last and after 30 minutes you can complete your journey to your destination. This ticket costs BGN 1.60.
Anyone using debit and credit cards, smart devices – watches and phones for charging in vehicles will also be charged under the 30+ scheme.
“This means that after the first use of your credit card, in the next 30 minutes, no matter how many times you make a transfer, you will not be charged. In every new vehicle you enter, you must validate your credit card as your journey within these 30 minutes, it remains at the same value – BGN 1.60,” added the director of CGM.
Regardless of how much the bank card is used during the day, the passenger will be charged a maximum of 4 BGN at the end, which is the price of the day card, which is a very convenient way to travel for those who accidentally use public transport, ha added Dilchev.
The 60+ ticket offers the possibility to board a vehicle at the 59th minute and continue the journey to the end. The price of this ticket is BGN 2.20.
For those who use public transport regularly, long-term transport documents are the most convenient, Dilchev stressed.
Additional applications are expected to launch next year.
Some of the control teams of the Urban Mobility Center will be equipped with body cameras, which will record their work throughout the day. Controllers will have the right to photograph the controls they carry out. This is expected to reduce strain in the performance of their official duties.
Currently, the ticket for an irregular passenger, sold by the conductor, is 30 BGN. Starting in the new year, its price will be raised to BGN 40.
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