TTC riders will be able to use Presto electronic fare cards on the new streetcars starting Sunday.

“Customer ambassadors will be available to assist customers with Presto cards as they adapt to the new system,” Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins said Wednesday.

There are only two new cars in service on Spadina, so far. A third new streetcar is being tested.

“If all goes well, it will be working next week with Presto on board,” said the TTC’s Brad Ross.

The provincial fare card system was supposed to be available Nov. 3. Neither Metrolinx nor the TTC have explained the delay.

It remains unclear when the Presto system will roll out on other TTC surface vehicles.

Aikins said it will be gradual. “We’re working on the schedule with TTC.”

Presto won’t necessarily make TTC trips paperless, either.

As they do on the subway, Presto riders will need to take a paper transfer to connect with another TTC vehicle.

Streetcar riders will be able to tap their Presto card on one of six on-board readers to pay their fare. If they want a transfer, they have to go to one of the two machines on the car and tap their card twice — once to pay, once to receive a transfer as proof of payment.

The card readers are already available at 14 subway stations. A further 11 downtown stations will be added as part of the first phase of the TTC launch. It’s not known when that will be.

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