Opus card

When the Montreal metro opened on October 14, 1966, the Commission de transport de Montréal (predecessor to the current Société de transport de Montréal, or STM) introduced a magnetic stripe to its tickets that could be read by its turnstiles and inspected visually when boarding buses.{{Cite web |title=Facebook post by Société de transport de Montréal |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153453493794797&id=191905614796&set=a.10153453486584797 |website=Facebook |date=2015-06-13 |access-date=2025-06-13}} Transfers were stamped onto paper by machines within metro stations and on buses. In 1982 magnetic stripes were added to the local monthly pass, the {{lang|fr|Carte autobus-métro}} or CAM card, and then to regional transit passes as they were created, such as the TRAM ({{lang|fr|TRain, Autobus, Métro}}) card in 1998.{{Cite |url=https://www.stm.info/fr/a-propos/decouvrez-la-STM-et-son-histoire/histoire/bref-historique-des-titres-de-transport-montreal |title=Bref historique des titres de transport à Montréal |language=fr |trans-title=Brief history of transit fares in Montreal| publisher=Société de transport de Montréal |access-date=2024-06-21}}{{Cite |url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/4187953 |title=Rapport annuel 1998 |trans-title=Annual report 1998 |publisher=Agence métropolitaine de transport |date=1999-04-12 |access-date=2025-06-21 |language=fr}}

By 2008, it was estimated that fraud from the current ticketing system cost the STM alone $20 millon in lost revenue, and that a smart card system could reduce that by half.{{cite news | last=Corriveau | first=Jeanne | title=Introduction progressive de la carte à puce | newspaper=Le Devoir | date=2008-04-22 | page=A2 | url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2812921 | access-date=2025-06-21 | language=fr}} To prevent fraud, the Opus card won't work re-tapped five minutes after being tapped.{{Cite news |last=Pelchat |first=Pierre |newspaper=Le Soleil |page=22 |location=Quebec |date=2008-10-02 |access-date=2025-06-21 |language=fr |title=RTC : 15 000 cartes à puce en circulation |trans-title=RTC: 15,000 smart cards in use |url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/3536030}}

Transit agencies, led by the STM, began work on the project building the Opus platform in 2000. Testing began in 2005. Turnstiles that incorporate the reader and vending machines were installed in Metro stations; buses had previously been fitted with new fare boxes that incorporate the card reader, in order to ensure the uniformity of methods of payment across Montreal’s transit network and that of its suburbs.

• March 2008 – Deployed for users of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) only.{{cite news |title=Advertisement: Avec la carte OPUS rechargeable, disparaîtront bientôt les cartes et les billets en carton! |author=Réseau de transport de Longueuil |newspaper=Le Courrier du Sud |location=Longueuil |date=2008-08-02 |page=14 |type=Advertisement |url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/4554606 |access-date=2025-06-21}}
• April 2008 - Progressive kick-off in the STM.{{cite news| last=Clément| first=Éric| title=La carte OPUS est lancée| newspaper=La Presse| date=2008-04-22| page=A10| url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2207917 | access-date=2025-06-21| language=fr}}
• June 2008 - First bus fares were sold for Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) buses.
• Q4 2008 – Deployed for students on all STM, STL and RTL as well as AMT TRAM users.
• Late Q4 2008 – Deployed for all regular fare users of all three transit authorities as well as Exo TRAM users.
• Q2 2009 – Start of deployment for users of {{lang|fr|Conseil intermunicipaux de transport}} (CIT) buses (predecessors of the Exo bus services).
• Q2 2010 – End of deployment for users of CIT systems.{{Cite web |last= |date=2013-03-01 |title=A system ten years in the making |url=https://busride.com/a-system-10-years-in-the-making/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=BUSRide |language=en-US}}

In all, the project cost $217 million to implement, including $169 million for the STM. The project was originally supposed to be implemented in 2006.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

Since the reorganization of public transport governance in metropolitan Montreal came into effect on June 1, 2017, the Opus ticketing system has been the property of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), which has entrusted its management to the STM.{{Cite report |url=https://www.artm.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RapportAnnuel2017.pdf |title=Rapport annuel 2017 |date=2018-06-04 |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |language=fr |access-date=2025-02-15 |format=PDF}}

On June 5, 2018, the STM announced a new project named "Céleste" that would provide an account-based fare system that would work with public transit, Bixi, carsharing platforms and taxis. Fare capping would be applied autoamtically, and fare collection could be done by tapping either an Opus card, smartphone or smart watch. The ARTM having only been created a year prior, the STM decides to move ahead without them and to bring into the project when they're ready.{{cite news |last=Labbé |first=Jérôme |title=Céleste, l'application de mobilité intégrée dont rêve la STM |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1105136/transport-commun-montreal-application-celeste |work=Radio-Canada |date=2018-06-05 |language=fr}}

In 2019 the STM tested both passing a turnstile with an Android phone and reloading an Opus card by smartphone. In October, however, the ARTM comes with a legal opinion stating the business model for Céleste is illegal. Project Céleste is halted.{{cite news |last1=Péloquin |first1=Tristan |last2=Ouellette-Vézina |first2=Henri |title=Récit d’un virage raté |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2023-08-30/systeme-de-paiement-et-de-planification/recit-d-un-virage-rate.php |work=La Presse |date=2023-08-30 |language=fr |trans-title=Story of a failed transition}}

In 2021, the ARTM launched a new digital mobility project, with a call for vendors to provide services.{{cite press release |title=Lancement d’un appel de qualification pour le programme numérique de mobilité |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |date=2022-06-03 |url=https://www.artm.quebec/lancement-appel-de-qualification-pnm/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |language=fr}} Project Concerto, as its name is announced in 2023, seeks to enable:{{cite press release |title=Transport collectif : L’ARTM et ses partenaires déploient l’équipe Concerto pour moderniser le système de billettique |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |date=2023-11-20 |url=https://www.artm.quebec/lartm-et-ses-partenaires-deploient-lequipe-concerto-pour-moderniser-le-systeme-de-billettique/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |language=fr}}

• Reloading Opus cards from a smartphone. This is delivered in April 2024.{{cite news |last=Lubeck |first=Andrea |title=Il est maintenant possible de recharger sa carte OPUS sur son téléphone |work=Journal de Montréal |date=2024-04-10 |url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/04/10/il-est-maintenant-possible-de-recharger-sa-carte-opus-sur-son-telephone |language=fr |access-date=2025-06-23 }}
• Paying fares directly by tapping a debit credit card. A pilot project is launcehd with the STL and Exo bus network on the North shore in 2024.{{cite web |title=Projet pilote de paiement par carte bancaire chez exo |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |url=https://www.artm.quebec/grands-projets/projet-concerto/projet-pilote-de-paiement-par-carte-bancaire-chez-exo/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |language=fr }}
• Allow account-based ticketing. After two unsuccessful calls for offers from vendors, who complain of onerous stipulations, the ARTM launches a third call in October 2024 with reduced requirements.{{cite news |last=Ouellette-Vézina |first=Henri |title=Remplacement de la carte OPUS : l’ARTM revoit ses exigences à la baisse |work=La Presse |date=2024-10-16 |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2024-10-16/remplacement-de-la-carte-opus/l-artm-revoit-ses-exigences-a-la-baisse.php |language=fr}} Tests have begun in May 2025.{{cite news |last=Barile |first=Jessica |title=Tapping smartphone to board Montreal transit system being tested |work=CityNews Montreal |date=2025-05-27 |url=https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/05/27/tapping-smartphone-montreal-transit-system |language=en |access-date=2025-06-23}}

File:2025-03 ARTM supports physiques titres de transport.jpg

The Opus system is card-based and not account-based. This allows fare control systems on buses or stations to operate without a live internet connection.

Durable plastic reloadable cards can hold up to four types of fares simultaneously and can be reloaded as long as its valid. In general, a new Opus card costs CAD$6. They can last up to seven years but, depending on the type, can expire after as little as one year. Reduced fares (e.g. children, students or seniors) will require you to have a designated OPUS card with photo ID printed on it that cost more.{{cite web |url=https://www.artm.quebec/en/fares/fare-platform/opus/#designated_opus_cards |title=OPUS card |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |access-date=2025-06-20}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rtcquebec.ca/en/rates-and-purchase/smart-cards/opus-card-photo |title=OPUS card with photo |publisher=Réseau de transport de la Capitale |access-date=2025-06-20}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.stlevis.ca/tarifs-points-de-vente/carte-opus |title=CARTE OPUS |language=fr |trans-title=OPUS CARD |publisher=Société de transport de Lévis |access-date=2025-06-20}}

When the ARTM introduced new fare zones in Greater Montreal in 2023, technical constraints prevented fares covering different zones from appearing on the same physical Opus card. The ARTM now sells designated All Modes AB, ABC, ABCD cards.

Certain limited-use fares can be purchased on cardboard smartcarts called {{lang|fr|L'Occassionnelle}} in Greater Montreal and {{lang|fr|Occassionnelle}} in Quebec City area. They can hold bundles of ticket but are single-use in that can't be reloaded.{{Cite web |url=https://www.artm.quebec/en/fares/fare-platform/which-card-to-use/ |title=Which card to use |publisher=Autorité métropolitain de Montréal |access-date=2025-06-20}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.rtcquebec.ca/tarifs-et-achat/cartes-puce/cartes-opus-et-occasionnelle |title=Cartes OPUS et Occasionnelle |trans-title=OPUS and Occasionnelle cards |language=fr |publisher=Société de transport de la Capitale |access-date=2025-06-22}}

The STM still supports the magnetic stripe cards for single fares or transfers from buses.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stm.info/en/info/fares/opus-cards-and-other-fare-media/magnetic-card |title=Magnetic card |publisher=Société de transport de Montréal |access-date=2025-06-20}} These cards can be used anywhere in Zone A, but must be validated and stamped with a date and time in an STM bus or metro before using on another agency's network in the zone.

Fares available depend on the territory and the transit agency. All agencies in Greater Montreal use the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain's integrated fare system. Agencies in Quebec City have their own fares.

Unlike other transit cards, such as Presto (Ontario) and Compass (Metro Vancouver), the Opus is not a stored-value system; the card stores tickets and passes, not a dollar value.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

{{Gallery

| align = center

| title = Vending machines that sell or refill Opus cards

|File:08-04-05 12-39 STM Cartier OPUS Machines Distributrices.jpg

|Typical vending machine (left) and recharging station (right) inside the Cartier Metro station.

|File:REM Panama 2025-05-13 DAT05 plein.jpg

|Touchscreen vending machine in Panama REM station.

}}

Opus and Occasionnelle cards are available at various points of sale where local transit fares are currently sold. Opus with photo ID cards are only available from certain locations managed by agencies.{{cite web |url=https://www.artm.quebec/en/fares/fare-platform/opus/#designated_opus_cards |title=OPUS card |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |access-date=2025-06-20}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rtcquebec.ca/en/rates-and-purchase/smart-cards/opus-card-photo |title=OPUS card with photo |publisher=Réseau de transport de la Capitale |access-date=2025-06-20}}

Automated ticketing machines that refill Opus cards and sell Occasionnelle cards stations can be found at Montreal Metro, REM and train stations, metropolitan bus terminals, as well as from specified retailers where local transit fares are sold.

Since {{date|2024-04}}{{cite news |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2063835/carte-opus-recharge-montreal-stm |title=Les usagers peuvent désormais recharger leur carte Opus sur leur téléphone |language=fr |trans-title=Transit users can now reload their Opus card from their phone |publisher=Radio-Canada |date=2024-04-10 |access-date=2025-02-27}} transit users can reload fares on their physical Opus card using their phone's NFC reader using their agency's mobile app.{{Cite web |url=https://opusenligne.ca/fr/faq.html |title=Foire aux questions : Fin du service OPUS en ligne |language=fr |trans-title=FAQ: End of OPUS on line service |publisher=OPUS |access-date=2025-02-17}}

{{Gallery

| align = center

| title = Fare collection card readers

|File:Brossard REM 2025-02-12 Portillon accès POR07.jpg|Card reader built into an fare gate at Brossard station on the REM.

|File:Longueuil-St-Hubert 2025-01-24 Validateur SH323.jpg|Card validator in front of the doors at platform 1 of Longueuil–Saint-Hubert station.

|File:Driving cab Nova LFS - STLévis 1204-2.jpg|Opus card reader on a bus of the Société de transport de Lévis.

|File:New Opus Card reader.jpg|An Opus card reader on a turnstile at the Lionel-Groulx Metro station.

}}

There are several methods of fare collection depending on the mode of transport and the operator:

• On the Montreal Metro and the Réseau express métropolitain, turnstiles or fare gates include a validator to allow passengers access to the platforms.{{cite web |url=https://www.stm.info/sites/default/files/media/Communications/2021/21650_04_depliant_validation_v19oct.pdf |format=PDF |author=Société de transport de Montréal |title=Valider son titre |access-date=2025-06-23 |language=fr}}{{cite web |url=https://rem.info/en/travelling/how-to-use-the-rem |title=How to use the REM |author=Réseau express métropolitain s.n.l. |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• For commuter rail in Montreal, passengers must validate their Opus card either on the platform or at the door leading to the platform.{{cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/fr/service-clientele/voyagez-101/validation-des-titres-de-transport |title=Validation des titres |author=Exo |language=fr |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• On buses, validation is done upon boarding using a validator terminal installed at the front of the vehicle near the driver. STM also has validators at the rear doors of articulated buses only.{{cite web |url=https://www.stm.info/en/about/major_projects/major-bus-projects/new-card-readers |title=New card readers |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• For paratransit services, passengers must present their photo Opus card when boarding.{{cite web |url=https://www.artm.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/RG_Reglement_titres_ARTM-A-33.3-R.3-2022-01_Version-administrative.pdf |title=Règlement sur les conditions au regard de la possession et de l’utilisation des titres de transport pour les services de transport collectif de la région métropolitaine (A-33.3, R.3 (2022)), article 22. |language=fr |trans-title=Regulation on the conditions regarding the possession and use of transit fare media for public transit services in the metropolitan region (A-33.3, R.3 (2022)), Article 22 |format=PDF |page=12 |author=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |date=2023-06-15 |access-date=2025-06-23}}

• Agencies in Greater Montreal under the ARTM:
• Société de transport de Montréal{{Cite web |url=https://www.stm.info/en/info/fares/opus-cards-and-other-fare-media/opus-card |title=OPUS card |publisher=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• Exo{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/fr/titres-tarifs/carte-opus/titres |title=La carte OPUS |publisher=Exo |access-date=2025-06-23 |language=fr}}
• Réseau de transport de Longueuil{{Cite web |url=https://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/tarifs-et-achats/carte-opus-et-autres-supports |title=Carte OPUS et autres supports |publisher=Réseau de transport de Longueuil |language=fr |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• Société de transport de Laval{{Cite web |url=https://stlaval.ca/tickets/opus-card |title=OPUS Card |publisher=Société de transport de Laval |language=en |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• Réseau express métropolitain{{Cite web |url=https://rem.info/en/travelling/transit-fares |title=Transit fares |publisher=Réseau express métropolitain |language=en |access-date=2025-06-23}}
• Réseau de transport de la Capitale
• Société de transport de Lévis
• Société des traversiers du Québec{{Cite web |title=City–Lévis ferry |url=https://www.rtcquebec.ca/en/useful-information/additional-services/ferry |publisher=Réseau de transport de la Capitale |access-date=2025-06-20}}
• Transport MRC de Joliette{{Cite web |url=https://mrcjoliette.qc.ca/transport-mrc-joliette/circuits-regionaux/carte-opus/ |title=Tarification et carte OPUS |publisher=MRC de Joliette |language=fr |access-date=2025-06-23}}

• The initial project included local suburban bus transit agencies outside of Montreal and the Agence métropolitaine de transport, that was responsible for the Montreal commuter rail network. These services have now all been rolled into Exo.
• Bixi supported Opus cards from 2017 to 2021 for one-way trips if you linked your card to your Bixi account.{{Cite news |title=Faire du bixi avec une carte Opus |language=fr |trans-title=Using Bixi with an Opus card |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1043843/bixi-velo-payer-carte-opus |date=2017-07-06 |publisher=Radio-Canada |access-date=2025-06-22}}{{Cite web |url=https://bixi.com/fr/comment-utiliser-bixi-old |title=Comment utiliser notre service |language=fr |trans-title=How to use our service |publisher=Bixi |url-status=dead| archive-date=2022-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124040514/https://bixi.com/fr/comment-utiliser-bixi-old}}

The Opus card has been widely criticized for its lack of stored-value capability and for being able to load only four types of tickets/passes simultaneously, factors that significantly reduce the capability and flexibility that would have otherwise been gained from a stored-value system.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

File:Lecteur USB pour carte «Opus».jpg

When the STM unveiled its USB card reader for loading fares at home in 2015, it was already derided for appearing archaic and not leveraging smartphone technology.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Maxime |url=https://journalmetro.com/societe/techno/805976/lecteur-pour-carte-opus-a-la-maison-un-mal-necessaire/ |title=Lecteur pour carte OPUS à la maison: un mal nécessaire |language=fr |trans-title=OPUS card reader for home: a necessary evil |date=2015-07-09 |access-date=2025-06-22 |newspaper=Métro |location=Montreal}} In August 2023, a McGill student published code for an Android app that can use a phone's NFC capability and an Opus en ligne account to load new fares on an Opus card instead of using the dedicated USB reader. The ARTM quickly asked him to retract his code base{{Cite news|last1=Péloquin |first1=Tristan |last2=Ouellette-Véina |first2=Henri |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2023-08-22/recharge-de-la-carte-opus/un-etudiant-dame-le-pion-a-l-artm.php |title=Un étudiant dame le pion à l’ARTM |language=fr |trans-title=A student outsmarts the ARTM |newspaper = La Presse |location=Montreal |date=2023-08-22 |access-date=2025-06-22}} and did not publish a similar service until April 2024.

• List of smart cards

{{reflist}}

• [http://carteopus.info/?language=en Official website]

{{Canadian smartcards}}

Category:Public transport in Quebec

Category:Montreal Metro

Category:Exo (public transit)

Category:Société de transport de Montréal

Category:Contactless smart cards

Category:Fare collection systems in Canada