Skipping the Old: Bid Adieu to Punch Cards - Westfalentarif Leads the Way in Eliminating Ticket Validators
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Disbandment of Entwerters Devices - Initiative by First NRW Transport Association - Demise of Designers - Final Farewell by NRW Transport Association
The age of antiquated ticket punchers in buses and trams is coming to a swift end in many places, with Westfalentarif, one of the four transport associations in North Rhine-Westphalia, taking the lead in eliminating these devices from public local transport. This shift is also being noticed in other parts of the world.
Starting August 1st, Westfalentarif will no longer offer tickets from their regular line that require validation before starting the journey. From November 1st, the validators in buses, trains, and at train stations will be deactivated and subsequently removed. Until that date, passengers can still use tickets with a "validation field." After November 1st, these tickets will no longer be valid.
VRR Prepares for a Cashless Commute
Initially, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) aims to enable cashless payment in addition to the existing methods across all ** vehicles** in their network. This gradual transition is planned to be completed at all VRR transport companies by the beginning of 2027. In the long term, ticket sales in vehicles should be cashless only. In most countries with existing paperless ticket systems, passengers can pay directly with credit/debit cards, mobile payment methods such as Google Pay or Apple Pay, and the VRR spokeswoman explained that proving the right to travel during a check is seamless.
Rhein-Sieg Hangs on to the Past
In the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS), tickets still requiring validation will continue to be sold, according to a spokesperson. The VRS has yet to announce its future course of action, but with the planned tariff reform scheduled for implementation next year, changes may be on the horizon.
It's a similar story for the Aachener Verkehrsverbund (AVV). In Städteregion Aachen, the bus company Aseag already no longer offers unvalidated tickets and does not install validators in new vehicles. However, validators in the old vehicles of the Aachener bus company will not be dismantled. WestVerkehr in the district of Heinsberg and Rurtalbus in the district of Düren still offer unvalidated tickets, while the Zweckverband go.Rheinland still provides validators at train stations.
Westfalentarif Embraces the Future
The Verkehrsverbund Westfalentarif is embracing this shift to digital ticketing, with only tickets with validity from the time of purchase or a fixed start date or time available from August onwards. For occasional travelers, several options for bus and train travel will be available with the smartphone tariff eezy.nrw, the TagesTicket24, and the single ticket without a validation field. These tickets can be purchased at ticket machines, in customer centers, in buses and trains, in the online shop of the transport companies, and via app.
The Westfalentarif hopes to achieve cost savings by eliminating the complex maintenance of validators, and by simplifying the often confusing "tariff jungle." However, validators at train stations will remain in the transition area to neighboring transport associations, and the multi-journey ticket and the single ticket with the so-called "validator field" will be discontinued in many places, except Bocholt, Unna, and Paderborn.
The Global Movement Toward Digital Ticketing
This move by Westfalentarif is indicative of a broader global trend toward the digitization and modernization of ticketing systems in public transportation. Many agencies are transitioning from traditional mechanical ticket validators to digital solutions such as contactless payment, mobile ticketing, and NFC-enabled smart cards. This shift is driven by the need to enhance passenger convenience, reduce operational costs, and improve system efficiency. The ultimate goal is to create a more user-friendly, efficient, and future-proof public transportation system, as can be seen in the efforts of the NRW transport associations and other progressive transit regions worldwide.
[5] Source: Transit Innovation Forums and Transportation Research & Informatics
- The shift towards digital ticketing in public transportation, as initiated by Westfalentarif, aligns with global efforts to modernize and enhance the efficiency of pricing schemes in the industry, utilizing contactless payment, mobile ticketing, and NFC-enabled smart cards.
- This progressive move in the finance sector, away from traditional ticketing systems, is aimed at reducing operational costs, improving system efficiency, and creating a more user-friendly, cost-effective, and future-proof transportation system, mirroring similar endeavors in various transportation agencies worldwide.
