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San Javier bets on smart, modern bus travel with new digital payment system
Ayuntamiento puts out tender for a contactless ticketing network that will make local buses easier to use and simpler to manage
San Javier is preparing to give its public transport a digital upgrade, with the Ayuntamiento launching a tender to design and install a modern payment system for the municipality’s buses.The move is part of the wider “San Javier, Looking to the Sea” Tourism Sustainability Destination Plan, funded through European Next Generation EU money, and fits into the Spanish government’s digital transition strategy for more innovative and sustainable tourism.
Right now, San Javier does not run its own urban bus service, but it does already have intercity links connecting different parts of the municipality with the Mar Menor and the Bálsicas railway station. A 2025 study has led the Ayuntamiento to map out a new four line urban network that will improve internal connections.
The planned routes include: a circular line around the urban centre, a Roda–San Javier line, an El Mirador–San Javier line, and a shuttle between Santiago de la Ribera and Los Arcos Hospital. The service will operate with four vehicles, three in regular use and one as a backup, supported by a network of 33 shelters and extra stops in the future.
At the heart of the project is a new smart payment “ecosystem” that will let passengers pay with the Ayuntamiento’s own contactless cards, standard EMV bank cards, or QR codes, including options that tie into mobile devices. A flexible fare structure will allow prices, bonuses and discounts to be shaped around different user profiles or zones, while also keeping a clear digital record of transactions.
The project also includes the provision of smart cards and the necessary on board and back office equipment, plus dedicated technical support to help staff supervise the rollout and any later updates.
For residents and visitors, this means a smoother, more modern way to travel, without the need to juggle cash or outdated tickets. For the Ayuntamiento, it means clearer data, better control over the service and a stronger base for future improvements. The contract will also include maintenance and training so that local staff can manage the system themselves and keep it evolving with changing needs.
In short, San Javier is using new digital tools not only to modernise its public transport, but also to make everyday journeys easier, more accessible and better integrated into the broader transport network of the Mar Menor area.
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Image: wikicommons
