Starting this Saturday, October 31, the São Paulo Metro will no longer accept the classic Edmonson tickets. The magnetic paper tickets are bidding farewell after 52 years of service, leaving São Paulo residents feeling nostalgic.
In September, São Paulo Secreto published an informative post about the end of the analog era at the box office and received numerous comments lamenting the change. Who would have thought that the little paper ticket would have so many fans!
Those less nostalgic, on the other hand, had other concerns: “What about the valid tickets I haven’t used yet? Will I lose the value of the tickets?” In this case, the São Paulo Metro guarantees that you’ll be able to exchange your Edmonson tickets for other forms of valid fare between November 2026 and January 2027.
Why is the Edmonson magnetic ticket being phased out?
With the end of paper tickets, users will need to switch to other access and payment options, such as rechargeable cards, contactless credit or debit card payments, and QR codes.
According to the state-owned company, the change aims to modernize the ticketing system, reduce paper waste, and lower costs. This is because magnetic tickets incur higher costs for printing, distribution, and in-person sales, while offering fewer options for reloading.
Beyond the nostalgia, the move drew criticism on social media, particularly regarding the potential exclusion of people without access to or familiarity with technology. Additionally, users questioned the continued use of paper QR codes.
- @fe.bevilacqua: What about people who aren’t tech-savvy or who don’t want to go digital?
Amid these changes, the São Paulo Metro now accepts Pix
Just as the magnetic ticket bids farewell, the Metro is now accepting instant payments on all its lines. This means that anyone without cash or a credit or debit card can pay with Pix exclusively at ATMs.
This has been a long-standing request from public rail transit users. The privatized lines and CPTM lines began accepting the payment method in July of this year, and the São Paulo Metro lines will be fully integrated with Pix starting October 31. Were you eagerly awaiting the change, or did you prefer the little paper tickets?
