In a recent decision by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (ATM), public transport fares in Barcelona are set to rise by 6.75% in 2024. This marks the first increase since 2020, and the decision is primarily attributed to higher energy costs over the past year. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which negatively affected the public company's financials for two years, also contributed to the need for adjustments.
Despite the overall increase, there's good news for certain groups of travelers. Individuals under the age of 30 using the T-Jove card and frequent travelers with the T-casual travel card will continue to benefit from a 20% discount. If the Spanish government maintains its commitment to reducing public transport costs by 30%, this would potentially result in a substantial 50% discount for users of T-Jove and T-Casual cards.
While the exact prices and the effective date of the fare increase are yet to be determined, the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility will play a crucial role in shaping these decisions. The increase follows three years of price freezes and aims to address the financial challenges faced by the public transport system in the wake of various economic factors.