Public transport in the Barcelona area has agreed in the board of directors of the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) to update general fares with a price increase of 6.75% and at the same time maintain the 20% discount on passes (T-usual and T-jove) by the consortium administrations. The bonuses may be increased to 50% if the State maintains the 30% contribution as before to favor travelers who use public transport the most.
The current prices for 2023 will remain until the official State decree is approved. The new prices agreed by the Barcelona ATM will not come into force until the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility officially decrees its contribution.
Regarding the general increase in rates, which has not occurred since 2020, the ATM points out that several factors have been taken into account in order to continue guaranteeing the sustainability of the system, after three years of price containment and several improvements. in the benefits of social titles.
In the economic aspect, “the high generalized price increase in recent years that has especially affected the cost of energy” stands out as a factor in the increase. “Since 2019 – adds the ATM in a statement – the accumulated increase in the CPI has been almost 15%. By 2024, it is estimated that the accumulated increase will reach 19%.”
On the other hand, “the impact generated by Covid 19, which has caused at least two years of strong financial decompensation in operators,” has also been taken into account.
Likewise, the ATM points out that during this time there has also been “the improvement of the offer, the renewal and expansion of rolling stock and the technological renewal of the public transport system, with new associated costs.”
The note justifying the increase that the ATM has just issued continues that the cost of the service that the administrations cover with their public contributions continues to be “very high and favorable to the user”: 58.7% in the last pre-pandemic year, in the 2019, to currently 65.5%.
The ATM board of directors has also approved the appointment of a new general director of the consortium. The former manager of Mobility and Infrastructure of Barcelona City Council, Manuel Valdés, will replace Pere Torres at the head of the entity. Torres has held the position for almost 8 years since his appointment in February 2016. The replacement will take effect on January 8, 2024.
The change in rates for 2024 confirms the already announced expiration of integrated titles acquired in 2023, which will be valid until February 29, 2024.
In the case of T-verda and T-16, they will maintain the expiration date of each title.
Regarding the titles still valid for 2022 that extended their validity throughout this last year, they will expire on December 31, 2023.
Unreleased titles may be exchanged for titles of the same type, paying the corresponding price difference if applicable. These exchanges can be made at different points until March 31, 2024.
