Need a tutorial on using bus and trams

Find complete information here https://tramalicante.info/mapa.htm.

Unfortunatly it isn't easy to go through all the options. Too extensive to explain here. But as time goes by you'll get accostumed to so many complications. Not as simple as find your (my) way on public transport iin the US which I enjoyed a lot.

Hi Denise,

I don’t have all the answers but here goes 😊

Yes your bus / tram life will be easier with multi trip cards.  Can be bought at Luceros station for example, or TAM shop beside SuperCor next to street exit for Central Mercado station in Alicante.  TAM shop usually has 2 or 3 English speaking staff.  

The card can be used for city buses and trams.   Cost is reduced with multi trip card.  Cost of a trip is determined by zones.  

Over 65, can get a gold card by being resident over one year, as per TAM office and Ayuntamiento site.  This will reduce cost even more.  Something to look forward to eventually! 😁

Yes we validate the card at the “beeping pole” or console when we enter bus or tram.

If you get off transport and return back on within the hour, then remainder of trip should be free if within same zone.  But you still have to validate the card.

Bicycles I don’t know what the law is.  But we rarely see anything other than wheelchair users or pushchairs on trams.   With the large amount of bicycles and scooters in the area,  I can say that there would be no room on the tram if everyone brought them on board.   They may not be officially allowed but that’s only a guess.

Hope this helps

Best Regards

Maria

The rules are posted on boards at the tram stations in Valencian and Spanish.  Google Translate is pretty good for the Spanish version.

The ticket price varies by which zones you are passing through.  Alicante centre is zone A.  A Zone A/B ticket is more expensive than a Zone A - and so on.  You don't need to tap your paper ticket - you only need that for showing on the tram or for going through the automatic barriers at the central stations where you hold them against the bar code reader rather than the card reader.

You can buy return tickets (Ida and Vuelta) from the machines.

You can take bikes outside of peak times.

Other people have already mentioned the Bono cards - you can buy 10 or 30 journey cards and recharge them at machines - although I've recently been having trouble with a couple of my cards.  There is a reasonable discount on these compared to paper tickets.

Note - the cards (as are the paper tickets) are zoned - and you can't tell just by looking which zones they cover - although if you put them in a machine it will tell you.  I usually write on mine with a sharpie.

In theory multiple people can use one card - but again I've been having trouble with that recently - and I haven't been able to get to an office when it's open yet to find out what's wrong.  The automatic reader on the tram will flash green if it reads successfully and red otherwise.  Not all of the automatic barrier stations are manned - so if you get stuck on the wrong side of a barrier it can be a bit of a problem!

The first language on the tram is Valencian rather than Spanish.  Announcements of stations are also in English.

Some (most?) stops after Campello going north are request - you need to push the button on the door before you get to the station.

There is a phone app - Tram Alacant - which can be used to register your cards on - and in theory it will tell you how many journeys are left on each card - but in my experience it's not very good - it loses track and doesn't even recognise all the cards I have.

Thank you so much! Your info was very helpful!

Denise

Maria, I greatly appreciate your information about the tram.  I am enjoying the tram rides a lot more since I don't feel like I am doing everything wrong. Thanks!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your tram knowledge with me.  It is a lot more fun riding the trams  now and not worrying about breaking the rules. What a great system!!!