Barbados is set to become the first Caribbean nation with a fully cashless fare system, as officials confirmed on Friday that real-time bus tracking and smart card payment will launch across the public transport network in September, in time for the new school year.
The Transport Board’s Chief Operations Officer, Lynda Holder, revealed details of the project in an interview with Barbados TODAY.
Not only will this modernise the public transport system, putting it on par with global standards, but Barbados will also become the first island in the Caribbean to implement such a robust, environmentally friendly public transport system, Holder said.
She said: “So you would have heard that we spoke about moving towards a cashless situation on Transport Board buses and there are a number of reasons for that. We have already started testing that system.”
Though not yet released to the public, Holder explained that the back-end of the system is already up and running internally to track and manage buses in real time. But, she added: “A critical component of that system is also the cash-facing part that the customer will be able to see – where the next bus is. We have made a commitment that we will be ready by the time school reopens in September.”
This means commuters will soon be able to track buses in real time using a mobile application, currently being tested under the name Transit BB.
“You’ll be able to find by route or by stop and you will see a whole map. You then put in the route that you want to get to, and on it you will see where the bus is meant to be,” she explained.
Internally, the Transport Board is already monitoring the entire fleet’s location.
“We can literally pull it up and see where the buses are,” Holder said. “I can look at my system and show you where buses are. I can tell you the expected time for the bus to get somewhere. That’s what we’re aiming to be able to give – not as detailed obviously – but something of this nature to commuters.”
The app will allow users to check when a bus is due, whether it has already passed their stop, and even if there are delays.
The new cashless system will also allow passengers – including schoolchildren and pensioners – to tap a smart card upon boarding.
“We’ve already logged all the school children into the system,” Holder explained. “We went to all the schools and we did that. We then worked with the electoral boundaries and have been able to connect into the old-age pensioners. So cards that have been pinned – we’ll be able to let them just board the bus and tap.”
Phase one of the project began with seniors. Since December 1, 2024, all old-age pensioners have been able to tap their new Trident ID cards to board the bus. If a card was not yet pinned or registered, the driver verified travel via a tablet. Even without a Trident card, those passengers could show their old ID and drivers would manually approve their journey.
“Once you hit a certain age in Barbados, you are allowed to travel as a concessionary. You just have to prove you’re at that age,” she said.
Other passengers will be required to obtain a travel card. Topping up cards will remain convenient, with existing token locations to be repurposed and additional outlets such as e-service centres available. “We want to make it as easily accessible as possible,” Holder added.
The Transport Board is also using data analytics to revise bus schedules, aiming to better match actual travel demand and road use patterns.
“There are some times that historically we know there’s no traffic on the road at that time – traffic being persons travelling on board the buses,” she noted. “So we are now looking at our schedules and we’re going to make some changes.”
Changes will include adjusting departure times from certain routes, with full notice to the public in advance.
“We want to make sure that we have the schedules so you can sit at your location or stand at the bus stop and know the expected time,” Holder said.
The scheduling improvements are also designed to reduce frustration at bus terminals.
“We’ve put persons in the terminals to make announcements. So they will announce delays and alternatives.”
Where routes share corridors, such as those passing through Government Hill and Sky Mall, real-time information about alternative buses will be announced.
“So if you’re going to anywhere between Bridgetown and Speightstown and you’re waiting for a Pie Corner bus but it’s delayed, we’ll announce that there’s a Boscobel or Jersey Hill bus you can take instead,” she explained.
Despite ongoing infrastructural challenges, Holder believes Barbados leads the region in smart transport innovation.
“We are much further ahead than the rest of the Caribbean as it relates to where buses are located,” she said. “Yes, we have some setbacks. I’m not going to claim we’re perfect. But we are working on it.”
With real-time tracking, a modern fare system, improved scheduling, and a growing electric fleet, the Transport Board said it is steadily moving towards a world-class public transport system.
“The expectation from the public was that service would improve – and it has,” Holder said. “We just ask for a bit more patience as we build something better.”
As the Transport Board continues its shift to an all-electric bus fleet, Holder outlined updates on charging technology and efficiency.
Buses introduced between 2020 and 2025 use AC chargers, taking about three hours to recharge, while those acquired from April 2025 use DC chargers, halving that time.
AC (alternating current) charging is slower, as the bus must convert the supply to DC (direct current) before charging the battery. DC charging is faster, delivering power directly to the battery without the need for conversion. The key difference is speed – DC chargers can recharge a bus in about half the time of an AC charger.
“A more powerful charger doesn’t make a difference in how long the bus stays on the road,” Holder clarified. “It just makes a difference on how quickly the bus charges.”
How long a bus remains in service depends on driving style and route conditions.
“If a driver is maximising regenerative braking, that bus can stay on the road for six out of the eight-hour shift,” she said.
On average, buses run for four to six hours before needing a recharge.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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