Athens Launches Contactless Payments on Public Transport

The news in Greek

1. ψηφιακός
   που σχετίζεται με την τεχνολογία των ψηφίων ↩︎
2. εποχή (f.)
   περίοδος χρόνου που χαρακτηρίζεται από συγκεκριμένα γεγονότα ή συνθήκες ↩︎
3. επιβάτης (m.)
   άνθρωποι που ταξιδεύουν με κάποιο μέσο μεταφοράς ↩︎
4. πληρώνω
   δίνω χρήματα για κάτι που αγοράζω ή χρησιμοποιώ ↩︎
5. σύγχρονος
   που ανταποκρίνεται στις σημερινές ανάγκες ή τάσεις ↩︎
6. άλλος
   διαφορετικός από αυτό που αναφέρεται ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: When did Athens start allowing contactless payments on public transport?

Question: What types of public transportation can passengers use contactless payments for in Athens?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
ψηφιακός	digital
εποχή (f.)	era
επιβάτης (m.)	passengers
πληρώνω	pay
σύγχρονος	modern
άλλος	other

Read the full story

This development follows a successful pilot phase initiated in April, which allowed users of airport express bus lines to pay using contactless methods. During this period, more than 90,000 transactions were completed using this system, representing approximately 9% of all transactions on these lines, illustrating the growing acceptance and demand for such technologies among passengers.

The launch of the ‘tap2ride’ system aligns Athens with other major European cities such as Madrid, Milan, and London, which have adopted similar systems. It aims to simplify and streamline the commuting experience for residents and tourists alike by offering a more straightforward and convenient method of payment, thus encouraging increased use of public transportation.

According to OASA officials, the contactless payment system is part of a broader effort to modernize Athens’ public transport services, enhancing convenience and security while supporting the transition towards so-called smart city developments. The system is expected to offer a seamless transit experience by eliminating the need to purchase physical tickets or understand complex fare structures.

Under this scheme, commuters can easily pay for their rides by simply swiping their cards or devices at the designated contactless payment machines. This advancement in Athens’ transportation infrastructure highlights the city’s commitment to embracing digital innovation to improve urban mobility and passenger convenience.

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