Carris. Trips can be paid for by card via contactless.

Several Carris Metropolitana buses now allow payment for the journey by bank card on board with the new Tap&Ride service ( contactless ), a service available on lines beginning with the number 1, 2 or 3.

According to a note released this Thursday by Transportes Metropolitanos e Lisboa (TML), responsible for Carris Metropolitana, the first road lines to make this system available entered testing on July 23, including 1624, with the Cascais (Terminal) - Portela de Sintra (North Station) route, 2769, with the Lisbon (Campo Grande) - Santo António dos Cavaleiros route, via Cidade Nova, and 3001, which connects Almada (Cristo Rei) to Cacilhas (Terminal).

The presentation of the new option, which will be included “soon” on lines starting with 4, took place on Wednesday on a symbolic trip on line 1624, leaving Cascais Terminal to Portela de Sintra, via Azoia and Almoçageme.

The event was attended by the first metropolitan secretary of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), Carlos Humberto de Carvalho, the administrator of TML, Rui Lopo, the vice-president of the Cascais City Council, Nuno Piteira Lopes, and the executive administrator of SIBS, Teresa Mesquita.

The Tap&Ride service has also been available since Wednesday on lines 1633, with the Ericeira (Terminal) — Portela de Sintra (North Station) route, 2727, with the Oriente Station — Loures route, via Unhos, and 3701, between Almada (Hospital Particular) and Algés (Terminal).

The expansion to other lines will continue “in a phased manner over the coming months” , with new weekly activations.

"We are building a more modern and intelligent mobility system, where technology is at the service of a better passenger experience. This new feature reflects our strategy of investing in digital solutions that simplify and encourage the use of public transportation," explained Rui Lopo, quoted in the statement.

The new option allows passengers to use bank cards with contactless technology as a direct payment method for on-board fares on buses, similar to what already happens on the Lisbon Metro, “providing a practical, fast alternative without the need for cash or pre-purchased travel tickets”.

"Making life simpler through easy, fast, and secure payments is part of SIBS's DNA. This project embodies that mission; it will be possible to travel on Carris Metropolitana conveniently and immediately, using only a card and without the need for top-ups [...]. We are certain that, in the future, this solution will be an essential element in intermodal mobility in the metropolitan area," said Teresa Mesquita.

Since June 1, 2022, Carris Metropolitana has been operating in four areas (concessioned to different private operators), which include the 15 municipalities of the AML that have delegated their powers to Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa.

Area 1 operates in the municipalities of Amadora, Oeiras, and Sintra, operated by Viação Alvorada. Area 2, operated by Rodoviária de Lisboa, covers Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, and Vila Franca de Xira.

Area 3 operates in Almada, Seixal and Sesimbra, operated by Transportes Sul do Tejo, and Area 4 is managed by Alsa Todi.

Carris Metropolitana's operations also include connections to municipalities that have not delegated powers and directly manage municipal transport: Barreiro (TBC), Cascais (MobiCascais), and Lisbon (Carris). Therefore, Carris Metropolitana includes connections to Barreiro (3 and 4), Cascais (1), and Lisbon (in all four areas).