The Community of Madrid has launched a new payment system enabling users to enter the subway system by directly using their credit or debit bank cards, whether physical or via mobile devices or smartwatches with contactless technology. This measure eliminates the need to pre-purchase a Public Transport Card (TTP) for a single journey.

The Minister of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, presented the initiative at the Feria de Madrid station on Line 8. The implementation coincides with upcoming high-profile events such as the visit of Pope León XIV in June and the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix in September.

All stations will be equipped with devices capable of validating transport tickets via QR codes, adapting to travelers' digital habits. According to Rodrigo, this improvement "will reduce waiting times, facilitate access, and prevent congestion in lobbies and ticket machines, especially on high-demand days."

The initiative, funded by European NextGeneration funds, will be deployed across 1,249 turnstiles in the network. Of these, 470 are already smart turnstiles, and in stations with older models, at least two turnstiles will support this payment method, with one enabled for QR code reading.

To encourage initial use, single tickets paid with this method will temporarily have a reduced and fixed price of 1.5 euros during the first few weeks. In this initial phase, the system will only be available for single tickets and will remain fully compatible with the Public Transport Card and other current titles from the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid (CRTM).