Bucharest’s public transport company RATB has reintroduced the option to buy one-day tickets via short text message (SMS) starting May 9, the company has announced. The service is also available for the express lines 780 and 783, which connect the Henri Coanda International Airport to the city center.

Passengers can now pay for a one-day ticket by sending the text “A” to 7458. In just a few seconds, they will receive a text message with a code that will confirm the transaction. The cost of such a ticket is EUR 1.65 + VAT.

Those who want to buy a ticket for one of the express lines 780 and 783 will have to send an SMS with the text “E780” or “E783”. The price of such a ticket is EUR 0.75 + VAT. The express line 780 connects the airport to the Gara de Nord train station while the 783 goes from the airport to Piata Unirii.

The order SMS is free in Vodafone, Telekom and DigiMobil networks, and costs EUR 0.05 + VAT in Orange. The passengers need to keep the SMS on their phones throughout the day, until the one-day ticket expires, or until the trip is over (in the express lines’ case).

RATB previously introduced one-day tickets via SMS in 2012 but suspended the service last year.

Passengers can also buy RATB tickets from the ticket booths located throughout Bucharest, close to bus and tram stations.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com