CARRISway

Android & iOS

Making public transport in Lisbon simpler and more connected

 

A native mobile app for top-ups, route planning and real-time information.

CARRISway is the official mobile app of CARRIS, designed to support everyday mobility in Lisbon.

It brings together, in a single app, the ability to top up the Navegante pass via NFC and to access up-to-date information on routes, timetables and real-time arrivals for buses and trams.

DXspark has been a long-term technology partner, supporting the development and evolution of the native mobile apps and backend services. 

Challenge

 

Before CARRISway, passengers often depended on physical sales points or machines to top up their passes and had limited access to real-time information about services.

Forgetting to top up a monthly pass, missing a bus due to lack of updated timings, or not knowing how long it would take for the next vehicle to arrive were common pain points. 

CARRIS wanted to: 

    • Make it easier for passengers to top up their Navegante cards directly from their smartphones.
    • Provide a single app where users could see routes, timetables and real-time arrival information.
    • Improve the overall travel experience and support a shift towards greater use of public transport.
    • Ensure a reliable, high-performance solution suitable for users who are often on the move and making quick decisions. 

Native mobile experience focused on passengers on the move

 

CARRISway was conceived as a mobile-first solution focused on real travel scenarios.

The app allows users to top up their Navegante pass using NFC-enabled smartphones and to pay via MBWay or Payment Cards, making the process fast and accessible. 
 
In addition, the app provides: 

    • Access to CARRIS routes and timetables
    • Real-time arrival information for vehicles at each stop
    • Native map experiences on iOS and Android, optimised for performance and battery consumption.
This combination turns CARRISway into a daily companion for those who move around Lisbon using buses and trams.

From top-up tool to mobility companion

 

The initial scope of the project focused on enabling digital top-ups for the Navegante pass. Over time, CARRISway evolved into a broader mobility app, aggregating key information and tools in one place.

The UX was shaped to:

    • Simplify top-up flows and payment steps
    • Make route and timetable search intuitive and quick
    • Present real-time information in a clear, easy-to-read way for users on the go. 

The Results

 

CARRISway has quickly become one of the most-used digital channels of CARRIS, supporting tens of millions of operations per month.

Adoption has been strong, driven by the convenience of topping up passes from anywhere and accessing real-time information in a single app. 
 
The solution helped improve the everyday travel experience for passengers in Lisbon, reducing the friction related to top-ups, missed vehicles and uncertainty at bus stops.

It makes CARRIS as a more modern, digitally enabled operator. 
 
Client satisfaction is reflected in the continued collaboration and ongoing roadmap to further evolve the app and demonstrates DXspark's ability to: 

    • Deliver native, high-usage mobile applications integrated with complex transport systems
    • Support both fixed-scope deliveries and continuous evolution through hybrid cooperation models
    • Combine user experience, performance and reliability in real-world, time-sensitive scenarios. 
It shows how a well-designed app can become a strategic asset in encouraging public transport usage and improving the customer journey end to end.

Let’s shape what’s next, together.

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