The sale of traditional paper tickets for the Paris metro has been stopped, the local public transport company RATP said, quoted by DPA. The change is part of a long-term transition to electronic tickets and new schemes, including travel cards.
The sale of paper tickets was stopped a few days ago, which is the latest step in the process of gradually reducing the number of points selling single-use tickets.
Two years ago, the coupon with 10 single tickets, which could be bought at a reduced price and was very popular with tourists, was removed.
Anyone who still has unused paper tickets can continue to use them until next year. After that, paper tickets can also be exchanged.
RATP said the elimination of paper tickets, introduced when the first line of the Paris Métro opened 125 years ago, aims to “reduce the environmental impact by eliminating the production and recycling of paper tickets”.
The operator said the aim was also to optimise passenger traffic, improve the passenger experience and make public transport easier for every passenger.
At the start of the transition to eliminating paper tickets, RATP estimated that more than 500 million paper tickets were sold each year, which ended up in the trash or thrown on the streets.
Illustrative Photo by Leica Palma: https://www.pexels.com/photo/art-nouveau-sign-above-the-entrance-to-the-pere-lachaise-metro-station-in-paris-19395821/
