ctb reports

In February the CTB is to incorporate Barik card top-ups via mobile phones on a large scale.

Initially, the app will work only with smartphones that run on Android 4.0 or higher and use NFC technology, though it will later be extended to other operating systems. As from Wednesday 9 December Barik cards can also be topped up online

Result of the raffle of three mobile phones among the participants in the “Recharge the Barik with your NFC mobile” pilot project.

The winners of the raffle of three mobile phones among the participants in the “Recharge the Barik with your NFC mobile” pilot project, held last 27 November at the CTB’s offices before a public notary, are the following:
- Mikel Santamaría Guerrero
- Marta Gonzalo Moja
- Mª Eugenia Moro Abascal.
The prizes will be presented to the winners next Friday 4 December at the CTB’s offices.

Having concluded this first phase of the pilot project, the CTB has decided to continue it, maintaining the Barik card consultation and recharge service with NFC mobile telephones operative.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 1st, the CTB will reopen the Metro Bilbao Mamariga Funicular service.

The CTB has practically completed the reforms and adaptation works of the Mamariga shaft, the access to the Metro Bilbao Santurtzi station that was closed on 14th June due to an accidental fire that affected its interior. The opening has taken place one month and a half before the initially scheduled date.
The total cost of the repairs has been calculated at 1,375,000 euros, which will be covered almost in their entirety by the insurance company.

On Monday the CTB will start to demolish the Red Cross building beside the Plentzia Metro station.

The works, which will take three days, will free space occupied by a building in state of ruin.
The works will not affect the surroundings of the station where, since last Easter, the shuttle buses that link the stations of Plentzia and Sopela stop.

Raffle of three mobile telephones for the participants in the “Recharge the Barik with your NFC mobile” pilot project.

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the raffle of three mobile telephones for the participants in the “Recharge the Barik with your NFC mobile” pilot project, the raffle will take place at the offices of CTB next 27 November at 12.30 pm, before a public notary.
Having concluded this first phase of the pilot project, the CTB has decided to continue it, maintaining the Barik card consultation and recharge service with NFC mobile telephones operative.

Today Unai Rementeria has been appointed president of the Biscay Transport Consortium (CTB)

This morning the President of the Provincial Council, Unai Rementeria, has presided over his first General Assembly of the CTB, after the Basque Government decreed his appointment as the president of this entity. The Mayor of Basauri, Andoni Busquet, has been chosen as the vice-president of the same entity.

The meeting dealt with, among other matters, the appointment of the institutional representatives of the Provincial Council of Biscay and of the City Councils for their positions in the decision-making body of the Biscay public transport coordination entity.

Among the matters agreed upon today by the CTB’s highest decision-making body were the approval of the governing agreement for the use and maintenance of the new access to the wastewater treatment plant in Galindo of the Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium, built in the Urbinaga station of Metro Bilbao. Likewise, the CTB has ratified a new collaboration agreement with the Integral Logistics Technological Centre Foundation (Fundación Centro Tecnológico en Logística Integral de Cantabria, CTL) to provide advice on the implementation of a contactless payment card in this Community’s public transport system, following the experience of the Barik card, as it represents an “ideal” model for the development of the ticketing system in Cantabria, according to the senior management of the CTL.

Half a million users have now extended the expiry dates on their Barik cards

Users of the 28,000 cards issued free in September 2011 to begin trials on the system and other cards not yet updated can extend the expiry dates at any of more than 500 points in the Bizkaia public transport network: automatic ticket machines on Metro Bilbao, Bizkaibus and Bilbobus ticket booths, tobacconists’, newsagents’ and retailers registered for the system. Just ensure that you complete the process before the date on which your Barik card expires.

CTB sets up pilot scheme for recharging Barik cards via mobile devices

The CTB is looking for a group of users of personalised (photo-type) or registered Barik card users to help test a mobile app over the next 4 months. The app is for Android 4.0 & higher OSs, and uses NFC technology.

Today the CTB (Bizkaia Transport Consortium) is starting a pilot scheme to enable Barik fare cards to be recharged via mobile devices. The CTB is currently seeking users to help test the system with a view to improving it to the level where it can be phased in on a large scale by the end of the year. Volunteers wishing to join this group should have a personalised (photo-type) Barik card or a registered card and a mobile phone with NFC technology and an Android 4.0 or higher OS.

Users who meet these requirements can sign up via the “PILOTO NFC” tab in the “acceso a mi barik” [“Access to my Barik Card”] section of the CTB website (ctb.eus). The CTB will then e-mail them a link where they can download the app onto their phones. This new app will enable users to top up any Barik card as many times as necessary just by selecting the ticket to be recharged and entering the details of a bank card (secure e-commerce) for payment of the relevant amount.

In barely two weeks, more than 200,000 users have extended the expiry date of their Barik cards CTB

In barely two weeks, more than 200,000 Barik cards have had their expiry date extended by 3 years. From last 13th July, the Biscay Transport Consortium (CTB) made it possible to change the effective period of both the personal and transferable Barik cards from 4 to 7 years at Metro Bilbao stations. Starting from next Tuesday 4th August, this operation can be done at a further 550 points of the Biscay transport network (Bizkaibus and Bilbobus ticket offices, tobacconists, kiosks and commercial outlets adhered to the system).

In order to extend the expiry date of the cards that are currently in use, users must go to a Metro Bilbao station before the expiry date indicated on their card and must insert it in a ticket sale and top-up machine, which will automatically update the valid period without any cost for the user.

Likewise, from next Tuesday, 4th August, users can extend the expiry date of their cards at Bizkaibus and Bilbobus ticket offices, at tobacconists, kiosks and commercial outlets and can make consultations or top-up their cards, updating the valid period automatically and without any cost for the user.

CTB extends expiry date on all Barik cards from 4 to 7 years as from today

The CTB (Bizkaia Transport Consortium) has decided to extend the expiry date on all its Barik contactless fare cards by 3 years. This decision applies to both cards already in circulation and the new cards purchased as from today.

Technical studies conducted by the CTB have shown that the chips built into Barik cards – a pioneering system when launched in comparison with those used by other operators in the area – are still providing optimum performance after 4 years of operation, so their useful lifetimes can be extended.

To extend the expiry date on Barik cards already in use all that users have to do is insert their card into any automatic vending and recharging machine at a Metro Bilbao station at any time. The expiry date will then be extended automatically at no charge to the card holder. This can be done at any time as from today, provided that the Barik card has not already expired.

CTB extends expiry date on all Barik cards from 4 to 7 years

The CTB (Bizkaia Transport Consortium) has decided to extend the expiry date on all its Barik contactless fare cards by 3 years. This decision applies to both cards already in circulation and the new cards purchased as from next Monday 13 July.

Technical studies conducted by the CTB have shown that the chips built into Barik cards – a pioneering system when launched in comparison with those used by other operators in the area – are still providing optimum performance after 4 years of operation, so their useful lifetimes can be extended.

To extend the expiry date on Barik cards already in use (both white and red cards, with and without photos) all that users have to do is insert their card into any automatic vending and recharging machine at a Metro Bilbao station at any time as from 13 July, provided that it has not already expired. The expiry date will then be extended automatically at no charge to the card holder

CTB is to change the screens at the Metro Bilbao control centre.

At a meeting held at midday today the Board of CTB approved a motion to tender for the replacement of the system of screens at the Metro Bilbao control centre, as part of a plan gradually to modernise the “nerve centre” of the network. CTB is to call for quotes for the supply of a video wall comprising 18 x 50” modules, for an initial price of €259,545 (including VAT).

Other points approved at today’s CTB Board meeting include three future actions to facilitate the uninterrupted progress of work to eliminate the level crossing in Urduliz.

In 2014 the Barik card continued to increase its user base and market share

. The contactless card of the CTB to move around Biscay using public transport reached the figure of 118,311,765 journeys last year.
. 71.5% of the journeys using public transport in the Region were done with Barik.
. Today, there are more Barik cards than inhabitants in Biscay: 1,209,544 cards.

More information about Barik: http://www.ctb.eus/es/como-funciona-barik

Over 600,000 journeys made using Gazte ticket by the year end.

The ticket created by Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia for travellers aged under 26 registered as resident in Bizkaia can be used on Metro Bilbao, Bizkaibus and Bilbobus services (and on the Artxanda funicular railway). A total of 603,889 journeys were made using this type of ticket in less that 6 months from its introduction on 21 July 2014 and the end of the year.
Gazte ticket holders are entitled to discounts of 50% on single fares and 20 or 30% on Creditrasn fares.
There are currently 8,200 Gazte type Barik cards enabled for use in Bizkaia.

The ctb is to change the lighting at the Metro stations

The ctb is to change the lighting at the Areeta, Moyua and San Mames Metro stations to LED technology.
This is part of the Metro energy efficiency plan, and comes in teh wake of the replacement of the fluorescent lamps at Abando and on 24 trains from the UT 500 series.
The ctb is to invest € 150,000 in changing the lighting at the Metro Bilbao stations of Areeta, Moyua and San Mamés.
This measure is being implemented mainly to save money: the new fluorescent tubes are estimated to use 57% less electricity.

Presentation of the Activate + programme

On Thursday 22 January at 10.00 a.m. the Torre Madariaga Basque Biodiversity Centre in Busturia is to host the presentation of the Activate + programme, which is aimed at saving and caring for the environment"

ctb at the Children's Christmas Park (PIN) 2014-2015

As in previous years, ctb, in partnership with Metro Bilbao, will be at the Children’s Christmas Park, with a stand to entertain children and young people alike

Use your mobile phone to top up your Barik card

NFC technology is used to top up Barik cards and consult the movements

The Activate + programme.

Bizkaia is to extend the Activate + programme, which publicises everyday actions to improve our world.1.

GAZTE” travel card comes into operation on Bizkaibus and Metro Bilbao

The new “GAZTE” travel card comes into operation on Bizkaibus and Metro Bilbao on Monday 21.