Digital payment systems expand in Barranquilla and Gran Concepción transit

Public transportation systems in Barranquilla, Colombia, and Gran Concepción, Chile, are implementing new digital payment methods to reduce reliance on cash and shorten station queues.

In Barranquilla, Transmetro users can now top up their travel cards via the Nequi financial platform. The service incurs a fixed transaction fee of $250 pesos. Users can recharge amounts between a minimum of $3,800 pesos and a maximum of $150,000 pesos per transaction. The process requires entering the card number directly into the app's services menu.

In the Gran Concepción region of Chile, covering nine communes including Concepción and Talcahuano, a new electronic payment system is being introduced. The initiative includes transport cards, QR codes via the Busapp mobile application, and credit or debit cards. The banking option will utilize a “Viaja, Acumula y Paga” (Travel, Accumulate, and Pay) model, where charges are consolidated and processed after trips are completed.