Ticketing and payment have crucial roles in developing attractive, socially inclusive and cost effective public transport. The contactless smartcard has given public transport operators a versatile tool that not only improves the efficiency of the ticketing process, but also gives flexibility to develop new products in response to both commercial and social needs. Harnessing the widespread availability of mobile phones offers further opportunities for innovative ticketing procedures and systems combining smartcard and mobile phone techniques will emerge. Advanced ticketing and payment systems can be integrated together with traveller information systems into customer relationship management procedures. Drawing on experiences from a number of systems, responses to challenges of integration, business development opportunities and social cohesion will be discussed.
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