The single ticket “ThessTicket” and “ThessCard» that the citizens of Thessaloniki will use for their movements from November 30 and after the start of the main line of the metro, it was presented during the event on “The new transport map of Thessaloniki” which took place today in a central hotel of the city, in the presence of the leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, transport agencies and self-governing authorities.

A new automatic fee policy system was installed on site and a demonstration of use and operation was made.

The plastic card will be blue, while the paper ticket will be white and rechargeable, i.e. the passenger will be able to use it for up to six product recharges.

The machines will accept coins and banknotes, and electronic card payments will also be made.

Vending machines will be scattered in all the municipalities of the urban complex and in key points such as the airport, KTEL bus stations, while vending machines will also be located in Metro stations. It was also announced that an application for mobile phones is being prepared.

Earlier, the director of OSETH SA operations, Aikaterini Tsavala, in her presentation, reviewed Thessaloniki’s public transport over the last 60 years, the abolition of the toll collector from city buses and the ways in which tickets are validated by passengers.

“Technology is evolving and Thessaloniki wants to upgrade its systems, as it happens in all European cities, it is the new automatic fee policy system,” said Mrs. Tsavala.

At the same time, the 70-minute unlimited transfer ticketthe ticket two-way (round trip)the ticket 10+1the airport special-use route ticket, Express linethe day ticketthe tourist 3 daysthe unlimited travel cards and other cards (pupil, student, disabled).

The advantages of using the new system, as Ms. Tsavala said, include the possibility of charging, as well as the fact that illegal boarding and ticket evasion will be reduced, as there will be metro gates and no one will be able to enter transfer. “From November 30 onwards, we are entering a new era for fares as well”, added the operations manager of OSETH, stressing that an information campaign for passengers will follow.

Regarding the restructuring of the bus lines that will arise in the urban complex of Thessaloniki in view of the operation of the metro, the director of the OSETH SA transport project, Samuel Salem, said that “of all the lines, 39 are not affected by the start of the metro, however the other 38 are affected and modified.”

“We envisage OASTH as the main provider of the metro line, with mainly urban routes that will be made by green vehicles. However, the trunk lines also remain, which will have a complementary function with the metro and will also cover needs that we are not able to cover all, such as the connection with the airport, with the KTEL of Macedonia”, he added.

Special reference was also made to the necessity of creating multimodal terminals in New Switzerland and the New Railway Station and in the next phase in Mikra, with the completion of the metro extension to Kalamaria.