Switzerland public transport users will be paying after trip ends
From 2020 passengers across the country’s entire Switzerland public transport network will no longer need to buy a physical ticket before their journey.
Almost 90,000 people have started using this ‘post price ticketing’ system on the bus, tram, or metro since a trial started last year.
The first country in the world to offer the “post price ticketing”
Switzerland is set to become the first country in the world to offer the “post price ticketing” solution to all bus, tram and metro users across its entire transport network, the Swiss newspaper 20 Minutes reported.
Following successful testing carried out since 2018, the national public transport tariff network CH-direct announced that the system will be fully unveiled throughout Switzerland in 2020, without specifying in which month.
Switzerland public transport users across the country will no longer need to buy cardboard tickets beforehand or have cash on them with which to pay for a ride.
Instead, they will have the choice of using their smartphones to submit their trips online before they begin the journey and clock out when they get off. If they forget, the transport app they choose to use will remind them to wipe out.
Project manager Silvia Kandera said: ‘Three years after the launch of the project, we are in a position to definitively introduce this innovative technology. ‘This reinforces the position of Swiss public transport and our spirit of innovation.’
Automatic ticketing is currently available with apps from BLS, Fairtiq, SBB, Zürcher Verkehrsverbund and TCS.
Several countries and cities around the world have implemented innovative public transport payment systems, some even offering free public transport services:
- Estonia: In Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, public transport has been free for local residents since 2013. This initiative was aimed at reducing congestion and pollution while increasing mobility for residents.
- Luxembourg: Luxembourg became the first country in the world to scrap fares on all public transport in 2020. This includes buses, trams, and trains within Luxembourg’s borders.
- Scotland: Scotland has implemented free bus travel for people across the country, making public transport more accessible for all residents.
These examples demonstrate a global trend toward making public transport more accessible and user-friendly. Whether it’s paying after the trip ends or offering free services, these initiatives aim to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and promote sustainable travel.
