October the 5th, 2026 – Zagreb tram payment methods and ticket inspection is set to change in 2027, making it all contactless and (finally) modernised.
Zagreb Electric Tram (ZET) is finally modernising its ticket payment system, and from 2027 onwards, passengers should be able to buy tickets by simply tapping a contactless bank card, mobile phone or smartwatch on a validator. Poslovni reports that the new system will support cards that use the Visa and Mastercard payment systems, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, according to the portal Financije.hr.
“The public procurement procedure for new validators and central control units is currently underway, while full implementation on all trams and buses is expected during the summer of 2027. The modernisation covers more than 700 vehicles, as well as the necessary adjustments to the sales system platforms, which is why the introduction is being carried out gradually and requires a series of technical and operational activities,” ZET revealed recently.
Under the model that ZET is developing, a passenger will be able to buy a ticket by tapping a contactless payment method on the validator. After a successful transaction, a notification will appear on the screen, accompanied by an audio signal, confirming whether the purchase was successful. In the first phase, the system will allow the purchase of only one single ticket per transaction. ZET states that the possibility of buying several tickets at the same time, i.e. in a single transaction, will be considered and developed later in the project.
The new system should also simplify ticket inspection. Passengers will no longer need to show a paper ticket, a transaction confirmation or data from mobile banking. “During inspection it is enough to tap the same payment method that was used for validation – a contactless bank card, smartphone or smartwatch – on the inspector’s device. The device will then check the validity of the travel right linked to the payment method used,” they explained.
The goal of the modernisation is to give passengers a simpler way to buy tickets, as well as more efficient validation and inspection of travel rights. The new system could also make it easier for tourists to buy tickets, especially those who are not familiar with the existing purchase method. As a reminder, ZET has recently been in the spotlight because of a workers’ strike that began on the 28th of September. Zagreb’s tram and bus services were then fully restored after the County Court ruled in the first instance that the strike was unlawful.
