25 April 2025 в 07:03

Virtual cards, and cards with a Russian-made chip: the Troika card turns 12 years old

Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Press Service

Since 2013, passengers in Moscow and other regions have made more than 20 billion trips using these cards.

12 years ago, the Troika card — a single card that allows users to buy a monthly season ticket or pay for journeys using the card’s electronic wallet function — began operating in the capital’s public transport system. About 53 million cards have been issued since then.

“The Troika-based ticketing system is one of the most innovative transportation solutions in the world. It is able to calculate more than 3.5 thousand fare options depending on the mode of transportation, region or number of days for which the season ticket is taken. Since 2013, passengers in Moscow and other regions have made more than 20 billion trips using Troika cards. We are developing the best Russian technologies in urban transport on the instructions of Sergey Sobyanin,” said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.

In 2022, transportation cards with an all-Russian chip appeared on the Moscow metro. In 2023, Troika production was localized at a facility in Zelenograd. Cards with new-generation Russian chips began to be issued at that time. Their storage capacity is three times larger than those used previously and meets the highest security requirements.

Since the end of May 2024, virtual Troika cards have been used on Moscow’s public transport system. The virtual card is a digital version of the familiar Troika card, which can be downloaded onto any smartphone. It is a convenient and environmentally friendly way to pay your fare without carrying a plastic card.

With a single Troika card, passengers can pay for travel on the metro, the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD), river and above-ground transport, suburban trains and the Aeroexpress trains.

The Troika card also offers a lot of other options. It can be used to pay at the ticket offices of the Moscow Zoo, Zaryadye Park and on board pleasure boats. It can also be linked to the Velobike service and used instead of a password when renting a bike.

At intercepting parking lots, where drivers can leave their cars for free between 05:30 and 02:00, the card can be used instead of a parking ticket, and to pay for trips on the metro, MCC and MCD.

And, when using the electronic wallet function, the 90 Minute fare allows passengers to make free transfers on above-ground public transport within 90 minutes of the first use of the card. To enable this option, the user should link their card via their user account on the Moscow Metro app.

When paying for one trip with using the Troika card’s electronic wallet function, a passenger can make free transfers between the metro, MCC and MCD within a period of 90 minutes. On a number of MCD routes, free transfers are possible within a period of 120 minutes.