The STM is testing new OPUS card readers at the back of buses this week

Sep 14 2020, 4:03 pm

The STM will be testing out new card readers at the back of select buses throughout the week.

The new equipment will be used to validate OPUS cards and L’occasionnelle fare cards on six buses on the 139-Pie-IX line.

The new readers will read cards “twice as fast,” according to the Société de transport de Montréal, which will speed up the overall boarding process.

The new equipment will be gradually added to the full STM bus network this fall.

“The card reader validates whether you have the correct fare on your card to board the bus,” says the STM. “It’s more modern and efficient than the card readers integrated into the old fare collection boxes and the new card readers will read your card twice as fast, which will speed up boarding.”

Riders on the select buses can simply tap their OPUS or L’occasionnelle card onto the reader to validate fares at either the front or back door. Riders who are paying with cash or a magnetic fare card are to validate at the front of the bus, as usual.

The pilot project is in effect now until September 18 and payment with bank cards will be introduced once the “technological infrastructure is in place,” concluded the STM.

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