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Staff Reporter

PALMA
USERS of the single travel card, which the Balearic Government is introducing, will have the right to free transfers.
For example, a person who uses the bus in Palma to travel to the Plaza de España need not pay anything more to take the metro from there to the University.

The same advantages will apply to a person who takes the train from Inca to Palma and, once in the city, uses the bus -- with the travel card, the first bus journey will be free.

These are just some examples of the advantages of the single travel card which will start being applied progressively inside a month, although users will have to take into account the different zones when trying to take advantage of the free transfers.

The Majorcan Transport Consortium are planning to create five different zones which will fix different fares.
Initially the card will be used for train services only.
In April, according to the government's plan, commuters will be able to use the single travel card for train and bus services.
At a later date, the card will be valid for all forms of public transport.
The travel card will also be valid on EMT's (Palma's transport company) buses, due to an agreement reached between the Balearic Government and Palma council.

This means that somebody who uses EMT's buses can either use the single travel card or the citizen's card, but they will have to calculate which one is cheaper.

If it is the person's intention to use the bus and the metro to the University, then the single travel card will be cheaper and more useful to them.
The single card will benefit those who use public transport the most.
The more journeys you make, the cheaper they are. This is a system which is used in Paris and London, where discounts are given to those who use public transport the most.

CARDS
The new cards will be available from train stations within a month. Passengers will receive the cards immediately, and will be able to credit them at the same station.

The cards are blue and will include a photograph of the holder, which will be taken at the time of application, and pictures of the train and the metro.

The creation of the card will not cost anything.
The Government are keeping to their plan that the metro service will be free during the first few months, to promote this service which may be inaugurated in April.

Although the decision is not yet final, there is a possibility of the metro being declared free until September. The metro links Palma with the Balearic University and the Son Castello Poligono.

The work is in its last stages.
The government is keen to promote public transport to ease chaotic traffic conditions.