How does Barik work?

THE BARIK CARD AND SYSTEM

Barik Card? What are its benefits?

The Barik Card is a Card with a "contactless" chip that allows travel on all modes of public transport in Biscay. It provides numerous benefits:

  • Faster: to validate the trip, you only need to bring the Card close to the reader.
  • More convenient: it allows you to charge up to a maximum of 90 euros on the fare option and have an additional temporary fare option on the same Card. The Barik Card will apply the available fare option that best suits your needs on each trip.
  • Safer: if a "personalised" Card (with data and photo) or a "registered" Card (only data) is lost or stolen, it can be replaced by a new one and the balance and the fare options it contained can be recovered.
  • Longer validity: the balance will be valid for the same period as the Card, i.e. at least 4 years. (Currently, the Cards sold are valid for 7 years).

How much does the Barik Card cost?

The Barik Card costs 3 euros. To travel it will be necessary to make a minimum recharge of 5 euros.

What types of Barik Cards exist?

Anonymous Card:

  • It is white, no personal data or photo will be printed on it.
  • It has the function of a wallet Card and can be used by anyone (it is transferable).
  • It can be registered in your name at an OAC, so that in case it is stolen or lost, you can get your money back.
  • It allows up to 10 people to travel together.
  • It can be obtained on the Barik network.

Personalised Card:

  • It includes a photo and personal details of the holder, who will be the only person who can use it to travel (it is non-transferable).
  • It can be obtained at the OAC (Customer Service Offices)
  • Required for the purchase of Monthly tickets and special conditions:
    • Large Family Profile, general category (F20) and special category (F50) with discounts of 20% and 50% respectively.
    • Bilbotrans Profile owned by Bilbao City Council.
    • Giza Profile, aimed at people over 65 years of age, people with absolute or severe disability or people with a disability equal to or greater than 65%.
    • Gazte Profile: Children under 26 registered in Bizkaia.
  • The Card can be Kide (white) or Giza (red), for Giza profiles.

How and where can you purchase a Barik Card?

The anonymous Barik Card (without photo) can be purchased at:

  • Card vending machines (MEAT and miniMEAT) in Metro Bilbao, Renfe, EuskoTren, Atxuriko Tram stop, and at the tourist office (circular plaza nº 1).
  • At the Hanging Bridge, Artxanda Funicular and Larreineta Funicular premises.
  • Bilbobus and Bizkaibus cabins.
  • More than 450 outlets including tobacco shops, kiosks and other commercial premises in Bizkaia where you can find the Barik sign.

To purchase the personalised Barik Card (with photo) you must go to any customer service office (CSO):

  • In Bilbao:
    • San Mamés (At the CTB Customer Service Office at the intermodal station).
    • Casco Viejo (At the Metro Bilbao and Euskotren Customer Service Offices)
    • Bilbobus (At the Customer Service Office)
    • Renfe (At the Customer Service Office)
  • In Getxo:
    • Areeta (At the Metro Bilbao Customer Service Office)
  • In Barakaldo:
    • Ansio (At the Metro Bilbao Customer Service Office)
  • In Durango:
    • EuskoTren (At the station's Customer Service Office).
  • In Gernika:
    • station square.
  • In Leioa:
    • UPV/EHU Bizkaia University Campus (Under the Faculty of Social Sciences).
  • In Sodupe:
    • Municipal offices.
  • In Portugalete:
    • Citizen Attention Office.

Where can you use the Barik Card in Bizkaia?

With the Barik Card you can travel on all public transport in Bizkaia:

Railways:

  • Metro Bilbao (Subway)
  • EuskoTren (Railway)
  • EuskoTran (Tram)
  • Renfe (Only Barik Kide) (Railway)
  • Feve (Barik Kide only) (Railway)

Buses:

  • Bizkaibus
  • Bilbobus
  • Etxebarri Bus
  • Erandio Bus
  • Kbus (Barakaldo)
  • Lejoan Busa (Leioa)
  • Sopelbus (Sopela)
  • Galdabusa (Galdakao)

Cable car:

  • Hanging Bridge
  • Ereaga Elevator
  • Artxanda Funicular
  • Larreineta Funicular

Other services:

  • Leioa, Etxebarri, Ibarbengoa and BEC car parks

Where can the Barik Card be used outside Bizkaia?

Outside Biscay you can travel with the Barik Card:

  • On the Euskotren Bilbao-Donostia-Hendaia General Line.
  • On the Vitoria tram.
  • On the city buses of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
  • On the Alavabus and Transporte Comarcal lines.
  • On the DBUS lines, Donostia-San Sebastián.

Where can you recharge?

Automatic vending machines for Metro Bilbao, EuskoTren, EuskoTran, Renfe and Feve

Cabins:

The Barik Card can be recharged in the Bilbobus and Bizkaibus booths:

Bilbobus

  • OAC Licenciado Poza 8
  • Gran Vía 8
  • Arenal,Plaza Arriaga
  • Plaza San Pedro/ Eliza, Deusto
  • Gordoniz 54, Rekalde

Bizkaibus

  • Abanto_Zierbena. El Minero Avenue (in front of the Gallarta institute)
  • Amorebieta, San Pedro, nº16 (halt)
  • Arrigorriaga, Severo Ochoa 13 (next to Caja Laboral)
  • Bakio, Bentalde s/n
  • Barakaldo, Beurko, Miranda Avenue (in front of the Santa Teresa market)
  • Barakaldo, Bide Onera Square (Los Fueros)
  • Barakaldo, Balejo, 4 (nex to the Cruces Hospital)
  • Barakaldo, San Vicente, Gernikako Arbola, 46
  • Barakaldo, Murrieta (next to Renfe station)
  • Barakaldo, C/ Retuerto (nex to underpass))
  • Basauri, Gernika 5, Abaro (San Miguel neighborhood)
  • Basauri, Kale Nagusia (next to the Social Antzokia)
  • Bermeo, Parque Lamera s/n
  • Bilbao, Gurtubai, 1 (Termibus)
  • Durango, Madalena Square
  • Ermua, Kaltxango, Bizkaia Avenue 7
  • Etxebarri, Txiki and Otaegui. Town Hall Square
  • Galdakao, Juan Bautista Uriarte 16 (Plazakoetxe)
  • Usansolo, Hospital (next to the underground parking)
  • Gernika-Lumo, Iparraguirre nº5 (station)
  • Igorre, Elexalde, Lehendakari Agirre 35
  • Leioa, Terminal autobuses de Bizkaibus en UPV/EHU (faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Lekeitio, Larrotegui, s/n (Health Centre front)
  • Loui, Loiu aierport, arrivals
  • Markina-Xemein, Abezua 8
  • Mungia, Trobika 4 (In front of the Town Hall)
  • Muzkiz, El Crucero 2 (next to the BBK)
  • Ondarroa, Itxas Aurre 8 (port)
  • Ortuella, Catalina Gibaja Nº 23 (behind the Church)
  • Portugalete, San Roque Plaza (Citizen Attention Office)
  • Portugalete, Repélega C/ Barrengoitia (Health Centre)
  • Portugalete, Abaro, 10
  • Santurtzi, Antonio Alzaga 51 (Kabiezes roundabout)
  • Santurtzi, Santurtzi Park (Bizkaibus stop)
  • Sestao, El Kasko Plaza, Las Llanas (in the arcades)
  • Sestao, Txabarri 85 - La Iberia (next to arcades)
  • Sodupe, Gallarraga 12 (opposite Herriko Enparantza)
  • Trapagaran, Primero de Mayo, 7 (ground floor left)
  • Ugao-Miraballes, Ugao Tower 8 (between 8 and 10)

Artxanda Funicular

  • Plaza Funicular, S/N. (lower station)
  • Artxanda-Santo Domingo 27 road (upper station)

Larreineta Funicular

Tobacconists and kiosks with the Barik logo

You can reload it in the following pointsSee the list

CTB website: www.ctb.eus

Through the CTB's App Barik NFC http://www.ctb.eus/es/app-barik-nfc

 

How to buy Barik Card titles online?

You must accede to the menu "Barik title purchase" on the CTB website, www.ctb.eus and follow the steps indicated there.

You can purchase all the securities that can currently be recharged on a Barik Card: coin (either Creditrans or Gizatrans) and the temporary securities Bidai 50, Bidai 70, Bidai Oro, Gazte 70, Gazte Oro and Gazte Bilbao.

Once the payment has been made on the website, the recharge will be available at the Barik system's points of sale (Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, Tramway, Bilbobus and Bizkaibus booths, tobacconists, kiosks, shops, bank cash machines and App Barik NFC).

There is one essential step that must be taken for the recharge to materialize and be recorded in the Barik. The Card must be consulted at these points of sale mentioned above. It is, at this moment, when the purchased fare option is recharged in the Barik.

How to buy Barik Card titles through the Barik NFC app?

You must own a smartphone under Android 4.4 or higher, with NFC technology.

You must download the free Barik NFC app located in Google PlayStore or in the Barik NFC App menu in our website: www.ctb.eus.

Once you have downloaded the app, you will be able to consult and recharge your wallet and other transport tickets on any Barik Card, as many times as you want, at any time of the day (24hx7d) from any geographical location and without having to go through any physical point on the network.

You have more information at http://www.ctb.eus/es/app-barik-nfc

How to buy temporary titles in advance?

You can buy in advance your temporary title incorporated in the Barik Card; these are Bidai 50, Bidai 70, Bidai Oro, Gazte 70, Gazte Oro and Gazte Bilbao.

You can do this at the transport facilities and booths where the tickets can be used, on the external sales network (tobacconists, newsagents, other shops), on the CTB website, and on your mobile phone with the NFC Barik app.

You can purchase it up to 4 days before its start date. The start date will be chosen at the time of purchase.

You can buy in advance, whether or not you have an active and valid temporary title at the time of purchase. In the case of having an active temporary title in force, the title acquired in advance will be considered a reserve title until its start date.

You can acquire a new temporary title as long as its periods of validity do not overlap, and it is within the established periods. The title acquired in advance may be different from the active title, in different ways, different number of areas.

In other words, you can have on your Barik Card a coin operated fare option, an active temporary fare option and a reserve temporary fare option.

If you belong to the group of Large Families or Gazte you must have this condition at the time of the start of validity of the ticket to be purchased.

In the same way that you cannot buy a temporary ticket if you have a negative balance on your Barik Card, you cannot buy a temporary ticket if you have a negative balance.

If you have a temporary ticket in reserve status, for the purposes of modifying the date of commencement of validity, extension and modification of areas, the provisions of the CTB ordinance will be observed (you can consult it in the "Regulatory ordinances" menu).

What do I have to do to access my Barik Card details online?

There may be two cases:

1.- You have not previously provided your personal data to the Barik System.

In this case, you must go personally to a Customer Service Office with your original ID Card to provide your personal data: Name, Surname, Address, Municipality, etc.

You must also provide a valid e-mail address and express your wish to access the data of your Card through the Internet.

2.- The Barik System already has your personal data

In this case, you must express your wish to access the details of your Card by calling the customer service telephone number +34 946 855 000 or by going to a Customer Service Office.

You must also provide a valid email address or confirm the one already in the database.

Once the procedure has been completed, in either case, you will receive an e-mail with the access password.

To see the movements of your Card, you must access the CTB website, www.ctb.eus, in the "access my Barik" menu. You will be shown the home screen, where you must indicate the user (Your e-mail) and the access password.

What do I have to do to get an invoice for the purchase of my Barik Card and the recharges I have made on it?

You must be logged in My Barik. You can see how to do this in the previous question: What do I have to do to access my Barik Card details online?

Once you have logged in to My Barik, https://www.ctb.eus/mibarik/index_en.php select the Card you want to generate the invoice for, click on the "Generate invoice" button that appears on the left of the screen and follow the steps indicated.

You can get your invoice for all the expenses made from January 1st, 2018. For invoices prior to that date, please send your request to partzuergoa@cotrabi.eus

In the selection screen of the purchase and reload operation on which you want to generate the invoice, you will also see the operations on which you have already generated an invoice, and you can obtain a copy of it.

Who can use my Card?

The maximum number of people who can travel together with an anonymous or registered Barik Card is 10.

With a personalized Barik Card, only the owner of the Barik can travel with it.

Can I have more than one Card in my name?

A user can have as many anonymous Cards as he wants, but he can only have one anonymous Card registered and/or one personalized because they are nominal.

Additionally, several Cards can be linked to a single Card, so that the same person legally entitled to do so can consult all the linked Cards on the Internet.

What is the minimum recharge for a Barik Card? And the maximum?

The minimum recharge is 5 euros.

The maximum recharge of a Barik Card wallet title in is 90 euros, except in the case of credit Card recharge, which is 45 euros.

In the case of web recharge and through the Barik NFC app the maximum recharge is 50 euros

NOTE: In a miniMEAT and cash payment the recharge is 50 euros. You will be able to make successive recharges up to 90 euros.

What is the maximum negative balance a Barik Card allows?

The maximum negative balance shall not exceed -2.90

What is the minimum balance required to travel?

By default, the minimum balance required to travel is one zone in the case of the Metro and Euskotren (in Euskotren when traveling in a group it will be 2 zones from the second traveler). In the case of Bilbobus and Bizkaibus, a balance greater than or equal to one cent is required.

The operation is as follows:

  • Entry authentication: When the balance of the ticket is less than the minimum balance required to travel, entry will NOT be permitted.
  • Departure authentication: If the amount of the journey made is greater than the balance of the coin acceptor, departure is permitted using the negative balance, as long as it does not exceed 2.90 €

Is it possible to travel with a negative balance on the wallet Card?

When there is a negative balance on the wallet Card, entry will NOT be allowed, regardless of whether or not there is a valid Monthly payment charged to the Card.

In order for the entry to be allowed, it will be necessary to make a reload to pay off the debt.

By making the minimum recharge (5 euros) we will pay off the existing debt on the money order, as the maximum negative balance is 2.90 euros.

USAGE TERMS & CONDITIONS

How many people can travel with a Card?

The maximum number of people who can travel together with an anonymous or anonymous registered Barik is 10. The system considers people together as consecutive authentications of no more than 5 minutes in train modes and 3 minutes in buses.

If the Barik Card is personalized, only the holder of the Barik Card can travel with it.

What titles can I load on a Card?

There are two types of titles:

Wallet

It has a balance that is discounted as the trips are made by applying the rates of each transport operator. There are two types:

  • Creditrans: Available on the anonymous and personalized Kide (white) Cards.
  • Gizatrans: Available on the Giza personalised Cards (red)

Temporary

The user acquires the right to travel either limited or unlimited for a certain time in the areas selected by him.

They can be loaded onto a personalised Barik Card and can only be used by the Cardholder. There are two types:

  • MULTIMODAL TITLES::
    • BIDAI 50

      Title valid for a maximum of 50 journeys for 30 consecutive days from the date of validity, between origins and destinations in the selected areas when loaded on the Barik Card. The selected areas must be contiguous. Once the 50 trips have been made, they can be reloaded.

      Valid for journeys on Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, the Bilbao tramway, Bizkaibus, Bilbobus, Kbus (Barkaldo), Lejoan Busa (Leioa), Sopelbus (Sopela), Galdabusa (Galdakao), Artxanda Funicular and the Larreineta Funicular railway.

    • BIDAI 70:

      Ticket valid for a maximum of 70 trips for 30 consecutive days from the date of validity, between origins and destinations in the selected areas when loaded on the Barik Card. The selected areas must be contiguous. Once the 70 trips have been made, they can be reloaded.

      Valid for journeys on Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, the Bilbao tramway, Bizkaibus, Bilbobus, Kbus (Barkaldo), Lejoan Busa (Leioa), Sopelbus (Sopela), Galdabusa (Galdakao), Artxanda Funicular and the Larreineta Funicular railway.

    • GAZTE 70:

      Transport title for persons under 26 years of age registered in any municipality of Biscay.

      Valid for a maximum of 70 journeys for 30 consecutive days from the date of validity, between origins and destinations in the selected areas when loaded onto the Barik Card. The selected areas must be contiguous. Once the 70 trips have been made, they can be reloaded.

      Valid for journeys on Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, the Bilbao tramway, Bizkaibus, Bilbobus, Kbus (Barkaldo), Lejoan Busa (Leioa), Sopelbus (Sopela), Galdabusa (Galdakao), Artxanda Funicular and the Larreineta Funicular railway.

    • BIDAI ORO:

      Unlimited number of journeys in 30 consecutive days from the date of authentication, between origins and destinations in the selected areas when loaded on the Barik Card. The selected areas must be contiguous.

      Valid for journeys on Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, the Bilbao tramway, Bizkaibus, Bilbobus, Kbus (Barkaldo), Lejoan Busa (Leioa), Sopelbus (Sopela), Galdabusa (Galdakao), Artxanda Funicular and the Larreineta Funicular railway.

    • GAZTE ORO:

      Transport title for persons under 26 years of age registered in any municipality of Biscay.

      It is valid for unlimited travel for 30 consecutive days from the date of authentication, between origins and destinations in the selected areas when loaded onto the Barik Card. The selected areas must be contiguous.

      Valid for journeys on Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, the Bilbao tramway, Bizkaibus, Bilbobus, Kbus (Barkaldo), Lejoan Busa (Leioa), Sopelbus (Sopela), Galdabusa (Galdakao), Artxanda Funicular and the Larreineta Funicular railway.

How can I check my balance? And available titles How can I check trips made?

The status, validity, operations and/or balance of the Barik Card can be consulted at the self-service vending machines in the stations (MEAT), at the ticket offices of the different modes of transport, at the Bilbobus and Bizkaibus booths, at the customer service offices, at the points of sale of the external network (tobacconists, kiosks, shops, etc.), on the website (after registration)  and through the Barik NFC app.

What is a transfer and what is its discount?

Transfers allow two consecutive services or transport lines to be combined. In these cases, a discount of 20% on the total cost of the trip is applied to the second stage of the journey.

For this discount to be effective, the transfer must be made within a maximum time interval of 45 minutes for urban trips and 90 minutes for interurban trips.

Exceptions::

  • On Bilbobus, the second stage discount is 50%.
  • If the user is Giza, there are no discounts on second stages in the operators, except in Bilbobus, which would be free.
  • For transfer purposes, trips made on the Suspension Bridge and Ereaga Lift are not counted.

What happens if I do not authenticate at the entry or exit?

In the double authentication system modes (MB, Bizkaibus, Euskotren, Renfe), it is necessary to validate both on entry and exit in order to determine the fare on the ticket or the validity of the temporary ticket in the areas travelled.

1.- If you travel with a wallet title: What is a regularization?

If the exit or entry authentication is not carried out, it is not possible to determine this tariff and, in the following authentication, an adjustment will be applied.

A regularization basically implies:

  • Charge of a fare corresponding to the longest trip in the following authentication
  • If not validated at departure, loss of right to transfer.
  • If the user does not have enough balance for the regularisation, the system does not allow him / her access to the mode of transport (the regularisation does not generate a negative balance).
  • If the Card has a pending regularisation and does not have enough balance to be charged, no ticket can be acquired or recharged, until the amount due is refunded.

2.- If you travel with a temporary title: At what point does it get blocked?

When you make 3 trips without validating entry or exit, in the modes where it is necessary to validate entry and exit in order to determine the validity of the temporary ticket in the areas travelled.

It is possible to continue travelling with the temporary ticket blocked, but in this case, the journey is paid for with the coin-operated ticket (Creditrans or Gizatrans).

To unblock the temporary ticket, you must go to the facilities or cabins of the transport where you can use it or to a Barik Customer Service Office. 

Each time you unblock it you must pay 0.50 euros in cash. It is not possible to pay with the coin ticket (Creditrans or Gizatrans).

How to select the title to use

If a Card contains several loaded tickets valid for the same trip, the Barik system automatically selects the most suitable and economically advantageous ticket for the trip to be made. Firstly, the temporary tickets will be selected.

In those modes of transport in which double authentication is obligatory the following situations can be generated:

  • Validate at entry with a temporary ticket and end the journey with the same ticket, as the temporary ticket is also valid for the destination area.
  • Validate at the entrance with a temporary ticket and the temporary ticket is not valid for the destination zone, so the journey will be closed by applying the full travel fare to the ticket.
  • Validate at the entrance with the coin acceptor and end the journey with the coin acceptor.

When and why does the Card expire?

The Cards currently sold are valid for 7 years.

All Cards, both anonymous and personalized, expire. The expiration of the personalized Cards is made to coincide with the date of birth, so they can have up to 7 years and 364 days of validity.

Once the Barik Card expires, if the user wants to acquire a new one, he must pay 3.00 euros for it.

The CTB, taking into account the times and stages through which the chip included in the Card passes and to guarantee the security and stability of the system, considers that after 7 years from its sale to the public the Cards must leave the system, as the chip manufacturer gives a maximum life of 10 years from the manufacture of the chip. Above this period, the correct functioning of the Card and the Barik system is not guaranteed.

How to recover the remaining titles and balances of expired Cards? 

Once the validity period of the Card has expired, it does not allow you to travel or buy tickets. From that moment on, a grace period of 4 months is allowed for the transfer of the balance.

Once this period has expired, the contents of the Card expire definitively and are lost.

The expiry of temporary tickets will be determined by the date of expiry of the same.

In order to transfer the balance, it is necessary to provide the two Cards, the original expired Card and the new Card to which the balance of the remaining titles is to be transferred.

In the case of expired Cards, whether registered or personalised, and in order to prevent fraud, this transfer operation can only be carried out by the original Cardholder.

This transfer operation can be carried out at any of the 11 Public Transport Offices in Bizkaia and at any Metro Bilbao station attended by a supervisor.

How to check the expiry date of the Barik Card? 

The expiry date of the Barik Card can be consulted:

  • Online, on the CTB website (https://www.ctb.eus/es/consulta-fecha-caducidad-barik)
  • In the automatic vending machines of the public transport network in Bizkaia.
  • In the Barik NFC application
  • Every time a recharge or a consultation of the Card is made at any recharge point of the Barik system network.

Can the balance be transferred from one Card to another?

It will be possible to transfer balances of wallet Barik Cards the customer service offices, under these conditions:

  • The transfer of balances of registered anonymous Cards and personalised Cards can only be made by the holder of the original Card.
  • The destination Card must have a balance equal to or greater than zero.
  • The balance transferred will always be the total of the corresponding coin acceptor. Partial transfers are not allowed.
  • Remaining money cannot be reconverted from coins to temporary securities or vice versa.
  • Payment of the Card acquisition cost charged to the balance of a Card or a balance transfer is not permitted.
  • Transfers are not permitted if there is a pending regularisation.
  • Transfer rights are not transferred.

What responsibilities do I have for being a Barik user?

The person using Barik shall respect the purpose for which this Barik Card is issued:

  • He/she has the obligation to take care of the Card, avoiding its folding, scraping, breakage, etc. In the event of a breakdown of the Barik Card due to failure to comply with the conditions regarding its care, the user must pay for the replacement of a new Card.
  • He/she must use public transport under the conditions established by the CTB and in accordance with the regulations in force corresponding to each mode of transport.
  • He/she will use the transport tickets contained in Barik in accordance with the stipulated conditions of use.
  • The Card must be presented at the request of the inspectors or employees authorised for this purpose in each transport mode.
  • The user will have to correct the possible regularizations and the possible situations of negative balance as soon as possible.
  • If the Card is misused in any way, it may be withdrawn from circulation or blocked by the CTB and the inspectors or personnel of the modes of transport authorised for this purpose.

TROUBLESHOOTING

What do I do if the Card breaks down or doesn't work?

In this case, you can request its return at the customer service offices. If the Card can be read, a duplicate will be made, if not, it will be reconstructed with the data that the Card has in the system, and the balance can be updated later with the pending transactions.

What if I lose the Card or it gets stolen?

The holder of a registered or personalised Card may, in the event of loss or theft of their Barik Card, request that it be blocked at any Customer Service Office, by calling 900 840 655

The blocked Card can no longer be used, so you must go to the Customer Service Office and ask for a duplicate, recovering the balance you had at the time of the block.