To the point
Starting in April, Greater Montreal transit users will be able to top up their OPUS card with the Chrono mobile application.
OPUS mobile top up
The functionality that Greater Montreal transit users have been waiting for is finally here! According to news from La Presse, it will finally be possible to top up transit passes on the OPUS card with a cell phone as early as April 2024.
To do this, you’ll need to use the Chrono mobile application, available on the App Store and Google Play. For some time now, this application has allowed you to read the contents of an OPUS card by holding it up to your phone, but not to buy tickets.
Following a successful test phase in February and March, OPUS’ mobile charging functionality will be rolled out to the general public by the end of April.
OPUS online users with a USB card reader will gradually have to switch to the new system. The OPUS online service will be decommissioned around June this year.
Save on public transit
Unfortunately, the STM and ARTM do not accept payment with American Express, unlike the TTC in Toronto.
To find the best credit card to maximize your rebates on monthly transit expenses, consult our complete guide:
Right now, one of the best choices is the BMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard. It offers 4% cash back on transportation for the first $300 in monthly purchases.
Bottom Line
Great news for Greater Montreal transit users! No more waiting at vending machines and busy ticket counters. This is a good step forward in the digital transformation of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).
The next step will be to be able to use your phone directly at turnstiles or on board buses. ARTM aims to have this in place by 2026.
Finally, it will also be interesting to see whether American Express payments will eventually be accepted, to earn 3 points per dollar spent on transport with the American Express Cobalt Card.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
