The demise of transport designers - Initial Association of Transport in North Rhine-Westphalia

Bye-Bye Bulky: The Farewell to Punch Cards - First NRW Transport Association Abandoning Punch Machines

Discontinuing Operation - First North Rhine-Westphalia Transport Association disassembles its devices - The demise of transport designers - Initial Association of Transport in North Rhine-Westphalia

Here's a game-changer for us public transit junkies! The era of hefty punch cards in buses and trams is quickly fading, particularly in Westfalentarif, one of the four transport associations in North Rhine-Westphalia. This trend, however, isn't exclusive to NRW; it's a global shift that's been gaining traction.

Westfalentarif bids adieu to ticket cards from their core collection that require the stamp of approval before embarking on your journey, starting August 1st. Come November 1st, those quaint stamping machines in buses, trains, and train stations will be switched off and gradually phased out. Until that date, you can still use tickets with a "stampable zone". Post November, those tickets will be invalid.

VRR is aiming for a cashless payment revolution

While Westfalentarif is jumping headfirst into this technological leap, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR), the largest of the four transport associations in NRW, hasn't specifically scheduled or planned this shift yet. So, fear not, paper tickets and stamps will still be available in the VRR.

The ultimate goal is to enable cashless payment in all vehicles in the VRR, in addition to the current methods. This gradual metamorphosis is set to be completed at all VRR transport companies by early 2027. In the long run, ticket sales in vehicles should be exclusively cashless.

In most nations embracing the paperless ticket craze, tickets can be charged directly to debit and credit cards, as well as mobile payment methods like Google Pay or Apple Pay. No worries about proof of travel authorization during inspections either.

Rhein-Sieg holds out, for now

In the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS), tickets that still demand a stamp will continue to be sold, a spokesman confirmed. The future course of action is yet to be decided in the context of the planned tariff reform between the VRS and the Aachener Verkehrsverbund AVV. The tariff reform is slated for implementation next year.

An AVV spokesman shared, "We're also heading in this direction, long-term." In Städteregion Aachen, the bus company Aseag no longer issues unstamped tickets and refrains from installing punch machines in new vehicles. However, the punch machines in the older Aachener bus fleet aren't being scrapped.

In the Aachener Verkehrsverbund's region, WestVerkehr in the district of Heinsberg and Rurtalbus in the district of Düren still issue unstamped tickets. The Zweckverband go.Rheinland also continues to provide punch machines at train stations.

Westfalentarif: Fewer Costs and Clearer Skies

Come August, Westfalentarif will offer tickets with validity from the time of purchase or a fixed start date or time. For sporadic commuters, several options such as the smartphone tariff eezy.nrw, the daily ticket 24, and the single ticket without a stampable zone will be available. Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines, customer centers, in buses and trains, the online shop of the transport companies, and via app.

Westfalentarif anticipates cost savings due to the elimination of the labor-intensive upkeep of validators. Adding to that, the "fare jungle" will be simplified, offering much-needed clarity for passengers. During the transition period to neighboring transport associations, validators at train stations will remain. The multi-journey ticket and the single ticket with the so-called validator field will be phased out in many places, except in Bocholt, Unna, and Paderborn.

Vocational training programs can be implemented in the transportation industry to prepare workers for the new cashless ticketing systems, reducing reliance on punch machines and ensuring a smooth transition in financial transactions.

The community policy may include provisions for vocational training in various sectors, such as transportation, to assist in the transformation brought by the shift towards paperless tickets and cashless payments.

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