Silver Cards to ride the new Dubai metro and other public transport modes have gone on sale in the city. The metro is to commence operations in September. The Silver cards are part of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) unified automated fare collection system named as ‘No 1 Cards’, to be usable on all modes of public transport.

In all there are four types of No 1 cards including the Silver, Blue, Gold, and Red.

Only the Silver card has been made available so far. The other cards are to be launched later but according to officials, the Silver and Red cards (valid for single journeys) will be available when the system is launched.

The Silver card will be good for travel in the metro’s economy class as well as on public buses and water buses. It is hoped to launch the Gold card (to be used for travel in the VIP compartment) just before the metro operation starts.

It is understood that technical glitches in creating “e-purse” and online transactions delayed the launching of the full range of cards.

RTA corporate technical support services sector CEO Abdullah Al Madani explains: “The Silver Card can be purchased now but it will be activated only on the day of the metro launching.” The Silver Card marks phase 1 of the unified automated fare collection project.

Silver cards will be available for mass transport users at 22 sales outlets including the five public bus stations, eight marine transport stations, and the nine RTA customer service centres.

The fares will be valid for trains, public buses and the water buses to complete a single journey. This means that a passenger using the metro will be able to continue his journey on a bus without paying an additional fare.

Monthly passes and special discounted fare cards for the elderly (60 and above) and students will be introduced “within months” after the metro launch. Children under five will travel free.

Fares for the metro and the public buses will range from a minimum of Dh1.8 ($US0.50) to a maximum Dh6.5 ($US1.75) for a single journey. The minimum fare for the metro or bus for a short trip for up to three kilometres will be Dh1.8 if a passenger uses a prepaid card or Dh2 for a standard single journey paper ticket.

The maximum fare for a single journey will be Dh6.5 using a standard paper ticket and Dh5.8 if using a card

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