The Subway – Part 2 – The Subway’s cards

Hi!

Today I will talk about another very interesting point about the subway: the subway’s cards that we buy and the subway’s services. There are several types of cards so it is important to pay close attention to this point.

Purchase Cards:

Single Ride card: Can be purchased at any subway station. Must be used in only one trip in lines 1 and / or 2, and it is valid on the day of purchase as well as for the next 2 days. So be careful and don’t miss the deadline! Note that it is only one trip and not unlimited trips over 3 days! The card fare is R$ 3,20. To use the card you must insert it into the subway turnstile. And if you do not use this card during its validity, you can return it at any ticket booth of the subway for recycling and get R$ 1,00 for the card.

Metro Card + Subway Bus Lines: Can be purchased on any subway station and also when boarding in one of the Subway Bus Lines. The card includes the subway and Subway Bus Line (with air conditioning) which have final stops at Gávea. It has the same fare of the Single Ride card: R$ 3,20. If you plan to use the subway first, just pass the card on the machine at the subway, but keep the card: you will need it when boarding  the bus. If you will use the bus first, simply buy the card inside the bus and put it into the machine when you enter the subway station.

Metro Card + Espress Bus (Barra) by General Osório Station or Express Bus (Jacarepaguá) by Nova América/Del Castilho Station: Can be purchased at any subway station and also when boarding one of the Express Buses. The card includes the metro and the buses with air conditioning, and its fare is R$ 4,15. The way of using the card is the same that Metro Card + Subway Bus Lines card.

Metro Card + Express Bus Barra by Nova América/Del Castilho Station: Can be purchased at any subway station and also when boarding one of the Express Bus. You will receive a Single Ride card and a ticket to the Barra Express bus line. The card can be inserted into any subway turnstile and the ticket must handed when boarding the bus. The card + ticket fare is R$ 4,15.

Metro Card + Express Integration: Can be purchased at any subway station and also when boarding one of the Express Integration Buses. The card includes the metro and buses with air conditioning. The card fare is R$ 4,15. It can be used the same way as Metro Card + Subway Bus Lines.

If you want to use the Subway Bus Line + Metro + Integration Express: buy Single Ride Subway Bus Line Card + Express Integration Card when boarding one of the Subway Buses Line. When you reach General Osório Station or Botafogo Station, just use the Single Ride Subway Bus Line Card, insert it into the subway turnstile and give the Integration Express card when boarding the bus. If you decide to use the Integration Express + Metro + Subway Bus Line: buy your cards when boarding the bus and, instead of inserting the card in the subway turnstile, you should pass it and only give it away when boarding the Subway Bus Line.  

Prepaid Card: Can be purchased at any subway station or ATM machines with a minimum initial charge of R$ 5,00. This card can be refilled with any amount between R$ 5,00 and R$ 500,00 in cash. It can be used on lines 1 and 2 in the subway, and in the Subway Bus Lines - Barra Express by General Osório Station and Jacarepaguá Express by Nova América/Del Castilho Station. In the ATM machines, it is important to pay attention because not all machines sell the Prepaid Card, only a few of them. All of them can be used to refill your card anyway. My tip is: if you are only going to use the prepaid card routes, buy it at the ATM machine - also, always use it to refill too because they are very easy.

ATM machines: as previously spoken, they enable you to purchase and refill the Prepaid card. There are five available languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish and German. Below you can see the screen that appears when you start using it and the screen that shows the balance of your card.

How to use your cards: Below you can see 3 different machine’s access. The machine that you will use is related to the card you have. I would like to emphasize that the card does not need to be validated before first use, so just pass the card in the machine or insert the card into the turnstile, depending on the card you have and the kind of trip you are doing.

  

Very important point about the metro buses!!!

Once you swipe your card, you have up to 2 hours to continue your trip to your chosen integration option with no further charge. And remember: the Express Bus Metro Card is not accepted outside of the integration stops.

If you will not use the metro, deposit your card at the recycling polls inside the bus. Remember, be green!

And a tip: unless you speak at least a few words in Portuguese,  you’d better take note of the kind of card you will need or where you want to go…  if you need more than a prepaid card, you will need to explain what you want to whoever is at the ticket office or bus, and there is a huge probability he won’t speak English - if you are lucky, maybe someone can help and translate to you, otherwise it is possible that you will have problems to get it done. But know that brazilians love to help, so be prepared for good and not so good helps! 

Little kisses,

Tati.