Changes are taking place in Madrid’ s means of transport. From July 1, 2025, intercity buses in the Community of Madrid will undergo one of the biggest transformations in recent years, with changes that will save time and money for thousands of daily commuters. The measure announced by the Madrid Transport Consortium responds to a historical demand from users and modernizes the system to adapt to the new forms of mobility and digital payment and is in line with what has already been happening for years in the capital’s urban buses.
The most outstanding novelty is the generalized implementation ofcontactless payment(contactless) in all intercity buses in the region. The system was already in place in the urban routes of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Pozuelo de Alarcón and Arganda del Rey, as the Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructures, Jorge Rodrigo, recalled during the presentation last Friday.
Now all passengers can pay for their single ticket using bank credit or debit cards, or any mobile device with NFC technology, directly when boarding the bus. This eliminates the need to carry cash or purchase tickets in advance, facilitating access and streamlining the boarding process. The system will coexist with traditional methods (transport pass, multi-journey card and cash payment).
Radical simplification of fares: just two prices
Another key change is the simplification of the fare structure. Until now, there were 21 different prices for single intercity bus tickets, depending on the distance and zones crossed. From July 1, there will be only two fixed fares:
- 1.50 euros for urban journeys.
- Three flat fares for intercity journeys, regardless of distance.
This is a major step forward in transparency and predictability for travelers, who will be able to easily calculate the cost of their journeys and avoid surprises.
New subsidies and discounts: free for children under 15 years of age and 50% youth travel pass
The new fare scheme also incorporates social measures and measures to promote public transport:
- Total free of charge for children under 15 years of age on the entire public transport network, including intercity buses.
- Youth Pass (15-25 years old) reduced to 50%, with a price of 10 euros per month to travel throughout the region.
- Discounts of at least 40% on season tickets and multi-journey tickets for all other users, jointly financed by the Ministry of Transport and the Community of Madrid.
Transport tickets purchased before July 1 will continue to be valid until their trips are used up, and monthly passes purchased before the change can be activated until July 9, maintaining their 30-day validity. The 10-trip vouchers can be used until the end of the year, thus avoiding losses for users who have purchased tickets in advance.