Smartcards: encouraging and supporting interoperability between public transport schemes (NEW UPDATE)

The research presents recommendations regarding possible actions at the EU level to encourage and support interoperability between transport schemes through the use of Smartcards.  Although this research provides namely recommendations for European actions, insight in the experience of existing transport systems can be interesting for cities. A number of existing or soon to be deployed schemes have been reviewed. Consultations with scheme owners, key players in the Smart Ticketing value chain, practitioners panel has been established in order to formulate possible EU actions.

State of the Art Review: the current situation in Europe

This review presents the current situation concerning the smart card fare payment systems across Europe. The systems are evaluated on efficiency, accessibility, benefits for travellers and existing barriers. Smart-ticketing schemes have been achieved through a variety of ways. Parties involved in the development, implementation and operation of integrated smart ticketing can be broadly categorised:

• Transport authorities;
• Transport Operators;
• Standards Bodies;
• Equipment Suppliers;
• Service Suppliers;
• Public transport users.
  
  

However in practice, this composition of stakeholder varies significantly between schemes. The main reason for introducing and implementing Smart Ticketing systems is the improvement of the efficiency of existing systems. The customer has a strong desire for a ticketing system that is simple to use and can cover all modes of public transport.  Smart-ticketing is perceived to be a lot more reliable, convenient, faster and easier to use than conventional ticketing. Smart cards are hereby the most common used form of smart-media. These cards are necessary but not sufficient. Operational as well as technology change is required to realise al the potential benefits.

Future view: smartcard, the remaining dominant media

In the future view trends of the developments in the market, the impact of emerging and new media and governmental actions were taken into consideration. The study concluded that existing schemes in general are, with the exception of  insufficient to support interoperation between schemes or across national or international boundaries.The future of smart ticketing is affected by two main fields where legal issues in implementing the smart card solutions causes limitations:

• The extant public transport smart card schemes have to meet the requirements and restrictions applied to e-money;
• Privacy and data protection.
  
  

Although two difficult factors are involved  by implementing smart card solutions the conventional smartcard will remain the dominant media for at least a couple of years. Near Field Communication media including suitable enabled mobile phones will play a more prevalent role coming years.

Recommended actions on EU level:

The aim of the study was to formulate recommendations for EU level actions in order to encourage greater interoperability within Public Transport ticketing, using smartcards. These recommendations are based on the result of the state of the art review and the assessment of future trends. The actions are designed to provide strategic leadership in the development of smart ticketing. The most important recommendations are as following:

• Conducting detailed assessments of schemes, identifying and facilitating the sharing best practices;
• Setting out model scheme designs, business cases and model agreements between partners;
• Engaging with key stakeholders and supporting relevant research;
• Provide incentives for stimulating further public and private investments;
• Additional action: provide extra funding for schemes to speed up the development of integrated smart ticketing;
• Additional action: develop a framework for the supply of services and equipment.