Montreal’s OPUS Card Is About to Go Fully Digital
So, there’s some pretty big news coming out of Montreal’s public transit world, and it looks like a real shift is finally on the horizon. Very soon, riders will be able to ditch their physical OPUS card and rely entirely on their phone instead. The transition has been talked about for years, but now the technology is actually ready, tested, and getting closer to a full rollout.
According to recent reports, the new system has been quietly tested in a beta phase through the Chrono app, which many commuters already use for bus and metro schedules. During these trials, people were able to load virtual transit tickets directly into their phones and validate them simply by tapping on the card readers at metro turnstiles or inside buses. What’s interesting is that the app doesn’t even need to be open. As long as the virtual titles are stored on the device, the validation works automatically when the phone is placed near the reader. After about a week of testing, no major bugs were found, which gives the ARTM a lot of confidence about what comes next.
Also Read:- Red Bull Backtracks After Antonelli Faces Online Abuse
- Bruce Willis’ Family Faces His Declining Health With Honesty and Heart
Officials are aiming to open this feature to the public in early 2026. The exact date depends on how the next rounds of testing go, because they don’t want to rush and risk a messy rollout. Montreal is already behind cities like New York, Chicago, London, and Toronto, where mobile validation has been used for years. Past attempts to modernize the OPUS system in Montreal have struggled—some projects never made it past the planning stage. But now the city seems determined to get it right.
This digital transition is part of a larger project called Concerto, a $146-million effort to fully upgrade the fare system. Eventually, riders will even be able to pay with a bank card or smartphone at the point of entry, without needing any transit pass at all. Beta testing for card-based payments should begin soon, though it could take until 2027 before that part reaches the public.
Despite delays in the past, early signs show that Montrealers are ready for this shift. Since 2024, people have been allowed to recharge their physical OPUS cards using their phones, and nearly half of all fare purchases are now made that way. Once full mobile validation becomes available, the ARTM expects the majority of users—possibly around 70%—to switch to digital-only transit access. Physical OPUS cards will still exist for those who prefer them, but the long-planned modernization is clearly moving forward.
There are still big technical challenges ahead, especially when it comes to integrating many different transit modes, but the ARTM believes the mobile system will eventually allow for special event pricing, smoother travel, and an overall more flexible experience. If all goes well, Montreal’s long-awaited digital fare era is finally about to begin.
Read More:
0 Comments