The rectangular metro tickets were in function since 1900 but they are going to be replaced soon as the Paris Metro has announced for completely automated tickets just like in London. There are many tourists who are used to buy these paper tickets in a carnet of 10 and their visit to the city was linked to the purchase of these tickets.
After many years, these tickets were found in the wallet, under the sofa or in the pocket of jeans. However, they were also easy to lose and were found littering in the pavements. And in those pavements, they took years to decompose.
But on Wednesday, the fate of paper tickets was decided as Ile-de-France Mobilites, an organization that handles the transport system in Paris and its surroundings, announced to automate the ticketing system completely by 2021. While commenting on this topic, the president of IDFM Valerie Pecresse said that the plan is to phase out the use of paper tickets gradually.
There are still many commuters who are using an electronic card known as Navigo for traveling purpose. This card is similar to the one which is used in London which is called Oyster.
Other than the electronic card, Ile-de-France Mobilites will provide commuters with two other options as well. Aa stats suggest the Metro is handling almost 1.5 billion passengers a year and the 10th busiest subways in the world. But when we talk about technology, it lags behind in the likes of Tokyo and London. And these paper tickets are one of the main problems.
While giving an interview, Sebastien Mabille, the spokesman of IDFM said that 5% of these paper tickets stops working as it demagnetized. But the new system will completely solve this issue, he further added.
According to rumors, the new automated system will launch in September and October next year and will allow plenty of time to metro and its interrelated bus commuters to used to the new system before 2024 Paris Olympics.
The transport agency said that it would provide passengers with two different electronic cards other than Navigo. The first one is the Navigo Easy pass, which will be used by those who are visiting the city for a short period of time. The card will be available from April 2019 and looks same as London’s Oyster card.
This card will cost $2.34. The other thing in these cards is the T-ride option which is the same as nowadays paper tickets. It will cost you $2.22 per ride and if you are planning a pack of 10 rides it will cost $17.39. This is already a 20% discount as compared to the paper tickets and will cover bus trips and one-way Métro rides.
Just like the Oyster cards in London, you can easily top up the card when needed. The best thing about these cards is that they are not nominative which means that except the owner, the card can also be used by others. And also they have no time limits. The other options include the pay-per-ride Navigo Liberté pass and the monthly, unlimited Navigo pass will need a connection to a French bank as they will act as debit or a credit card and tourists will not get any significant benefit from these cards.
However, if you are fond of scrapbooking and worried about the paper tickets, you still have plenty of time to book your trip and collect a few more. The paper tickets will not be phased out completely by 2021, as mentioned in the press release of IDFM. If you are in Paris and armed with Navigo card, you can easily get around the city. You can easily pay for the Metro and double-decker with these cards. Now you don’t need to worry about the paper tickets demagnatizing as the automated system is eminent to take over. Just buy the card and travel anywhere in the city.