Liepāja’s public transport passengers can start using the new electronic payment system and purchase e-tickets. Paper tickets will continue to be available alongside this. Still, with the introduction of the electronic system, tickets from the vehicle driver can only be purchased with a card or other cashless payment methods.
To use the new system, passengers must download the Liepāja city app called “Liepājas pilsēta” from Google Play or App Store and create a user account. Both Latvian and international mobile operator clients can create accounts. Users can also register via the public transport e-ticket system at www.liepajastransports.lv in the “E-ticket” section. One user account is linked to a single mobile phone number, which can only be used on one device at a time.
After creating an account, passengers can purchase e-tickets either via the “Liepājas pilsēta” app or the e-ticket system at www.liepajastransports.lv. Payment options include entering card details manually, using bank transaction systems, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or postpaid phone billing. For passengers with a Mobilly account, ticket purchases take just a few seconds as payments are made instantly from the Mobilly account.
Passengers can check the status of purchased e-tickets, expiration dates, and other information in the “My Tickets” section of the app or the e-system.
Each e-ticket must be registered for every trip, including multi-use or monthly passes. Tickets can be registered by either scanning the QR code at the ticket reader with a smartphone or by entering the vehicle number, found on the vehicle’s exterior and inside on screens or stickers.
To use and register the e-ticket on a mobile device, the device must be online with mobile data enabled. The device should be charged and in good working order to allow ticket inspectors to verify the e-ticket’s validity.
As the system is new, passengers are encouraged to be understanding and report any issues by sending an SMS or WhatsApp message to +371 20 222 002.
For passengers who don’t use smartphones or mobile data, there will be an option in the future to purchase a plastic e-card (for a one-time fee), which will store purchased e-tickets. These e-tickets can be bought either in person at ticket sales points or electronically via the transport e-system on the agency’s website. Until plastic e-cards are introduced, these passengers can continue using paper tickets.
The implementation of the new system will happen in phases, with information provided for each stage. Initially, e-tickets will be available to passengers using mobile devices without fare discounts.
It’s important to note that paper ticket validators on buses will now be located at the front, while the new e-ticket readers will be placed at the middle doors. In trams, the paper ticket validators will be at the first and third doors, while new ticket readers will be at the second and fourth doors. During the transition period, when both systems are in use, passengers should keep this in mind and, if using a paper ticket, board through the front doors of buses to avoid inconvenience.
It is expected that paper tickets will still be available for purchase and use for several months, and previously purchased tickets can be used until their expiration date. Tickets bought from the driver will not need to be registered but must be shown to public transport control if requested.