Purchasing tickets at a Swiss ticket office.

3 July 2011

Federal Railways Plans Introduction
of E-tickets

Bern Switzerland - Passengers could soon be able to benefit from an electronic ticketing system on Swiss trains, buses, boats, and mountain cable cars.
 
Swiss Federal Railways confirmed reports that preparations were underway to introduce the e-ticket within six years as additional option beside the traditional travel document.
 
First trials are scheduled for 2016 and costs for technical upgrades are estimated at about CH 200 million.
 
A plastic card containing a chip would allow the billing of passengers once a month and the railway management could introduce client-tailored prices, Santiago Garcia of Federal Railways told several Sunday newspapers.
 
The association of public transport, comprising more than 300 companies, is scheduled to discuss e-ticketing for the popular travel cards at a meeting in November.
 
Observers say the introduction of the e-tickets could raise concern over data protection.
 
A similar project was abandoned nine years ago, notably over expected costs.