Sofia public transport would implement electronic ticketing in trolleybuses and trams starting September 1 2008. The system would be introduced in the underground and buses later; meanwhile, the existing paper tickets would be valid, Sofia Public Transport Company (SPTC) said, as quoted by Sega daily on July 15.

Electronic passes would cost three leva and would be available for purchase and recharging at the SPTC ticket desks. Tickets would be available at devices installed next to the driver's seat. The new passes could be recharged for one, three and six months or a certain number of trips on one, two or all routes.

Passes and tickets would be scanned by devices at the doors of the vehicle. Passengers who do not mark their passes in the device, would be fined the price of a ticket, instead of the current fine of 10 times the ticket price.

Electronic passes and tickets would not be mandatory, but SPTC intended to establish them among all passengers using discounts, Sega said.

SPTC director Nikolai Kostov said that “to avoid queues, electronic passes will be issued gradually and there will be a transition period”. The discount passes should be changed within three months, he said.

As the new system was expected to cause problems to pensioners, SPTC planned to launch and information campaign, the newspaper said.