Say Goodbye to Stamps: The Phasing Out of Punch Cards - Westfalentarif Leads the Way in NRW
Discontinuation of exhibitions - Initial NRW Traffic Association removes equipment - Designers' Demise - Termination of the First Transport Association of North Rhine-Westphalia
Embrace the future, folks, because those old-school punch cards in public buses and trams are becoming extinct. Westfalentarif, one of the four transport associations in North Rhine-Westphalia, has taken the initiative by announcing a massive sweep of these tangible ticket validators from local transport networks. This revolution isn't confined to NRW either, as other regions are following suit.
Beginning August 1st, Westfalentarif will cease selling tickets from its core lineup requiring pre-journey validation. As of November 1st, the validators on buses, trains, and at stations will be disabled and consequently removed over time. Until this date, passengers can still use tickets equipped with a "validation field." Post that, these tickets lose their validity.
VRR's Gradual Transition
The VRR, the largest of the four transport associations in NRW, aims to facilitate cashless payment in all vehicles, but has yet to finalize the schedule. This shift is expected to be completed at all VRR transport companies by early 2027. In the meantime, passengers can still buy paper tickets with validation capabilities.
In most countries with existing paperless ticketing systems, tickets can be paid for directly using debit and credit cards, as well as mobile payment methods like Google Pay or Apple Pay. Verification during inspections is also hassle-free.
Rhein-Sieg Remains Traditional
In the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS), tickets with validation requirements will continue to be sold. The future strategy is under discussion within the framework of the planned tariff reform between the VRS and the Aachener Verkehrsverbund AVV, scheduled for implementation next year.
The Aachener Verkehrsverbund AVV has hinted at adopting the cashless trend in the long run. In the Städteregion Aachen, the ASEAG bus company no longer offers unvalidated tickets. However, the validators on Achener bus fleet's older vehicles will remain intact.
In the Aachener Verkehrsverbund, WestVerkehr in Heinsberg and Rurtalbus in Düren still offer unvalidated tickets. The Zweckverband go.Rheinland also continues to provide validators at train stations.
Westfalentarif: Cost Savings and Simplification
In the Verkehrsverbund Westfalentarif, only tickets with validity from the time of purchase or fixed start dates will be available starting August. Occasional travelers can choose from several bus and train travel options using the Smartphone Tarif eezy.nrw, the TagesTicket24, and the single ticket without a validation field. Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines, customer centers, in buses and trains, in the online shop of the transport companies, and via app.
Westfalentarif hopes to achieve cost savings by eliminating the complicated maintenance associated with validators, and making the tariff system more transparent for passengers. The transition area to neighboring transport associations will retain validators at train stations. The multi-journey ticket and the single ticket with the validation field will be phased out in many places, with Bocholt, Unna, and Paderborn being exceptions.
While Germany's public transport system sees a shift towards digitization, there is no nationwide timeline for transitioning all transport systems to cashless or completely removing ticket validators. The decline in cash usage and the growing preference for digital payments could pave the way for such changes in the future.
In the transition to a cashless transport system, Westfalentarif aims to streamline costs and enhance transparency by phasing out the need for validation fields on tickets, starting August 1st. Simultaneously, industries like finance and transportation will likely benefit from vocational training programs, as the shift towards digital payments demands skilled professionals well-versed in these realms.
