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Smart Ticketing Alliance established for simpler and easier ticketing systems across Europe

Posted: 28 June 2013 | UITP | No comments yet

The Smart Ticketing Alliance will be established following the agreement of a charter…

The Smart Ticketing Alliance will be established following the agreement of a charter by VDV KA (DE), ITSO (UK), AFIMB (FR), Calypso Networks and UITP. The Smart Ticketing Alliance will be a platform for European and global cooperation. The founders of the Smart Ticketing Alliance invite other national and regional ticketing schemes to join.

Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed February 2012, a Smart Ticketing Alliance Charter has now been agreed by representatives of the organisations of VDV KA (Germany), ITSO (UK), AFIMB (France) and Calypso Network Association, together with representatives of UITP (International Association of Public Transport).

This is another major step forward in making transport ticketing across parts of Europe simpler and easier for passengers: it creates a platform for cooperation throughout Europe and globally. The Charter includes cooperation on, and establishment of, a trust scheme for Public Transport that mirrors the Trust Schemes in the mobile phone industry, banking etc.

The February 2012 agreement commits the Alliance to cooperating on the development of Smart Ticketing interoperability based on the principles of Interoperable Fare Management (IFM) set out in the EU-IFM Project funded by the European Commission and the developments in contactless bankcards and NFC-enabled devices, particularly mobile phones.

The Smart Ticketing Alliance Charter represents a coordinated approach for establishing Smart Ticketing interoperability in the public transport sector.

The main goals of the Alliance are:

  • Cooperation between national and regional Smart Ticketing schemes to establish interoperable Smart Ticketing in Europe and elsewhere.
  • To develop, agree and publish the functional and technical requirements for smart ticketing interoperability
  • Cooperation on the establishment of Trust Schemes, Specifications and Certification
  • Cooperation with other European and International bodies to promote interoperability in Smart Ticketing

Full membership is open for national ticketing schemes and regional groups of Public Transport Authorities/Companies cooperating in the electronic Smart Ticketing area. Associated members are welcomed. The founder members of the Smart Ticketing Alliance invite other European stakeholders to join either as Full Members or at Associate level in the development of the Smart Ticketing Alliance.

A coordinating Secretariat will be established for the Smart Ticketing Alliance from within the UITP to provide a single contact point.