The payment card becomes a bus ticket: pilot project starts on the Arlberg

• From December 11th, the payment card for passengers on the Arlberg will become a bus ticket
• Nine buses on lines 750 and 760 will be equipped with NFC terminals
• Pilot project by the Vorarlberg Transport Association and Mastercard relieves the burden on bus drivers and shortens waiting times

In the Arlberg (Vorarlberg), bus travel will be easier and faster in the future: From December 11th, passengers will be able to conveniently buy their tickets using their cell phone, smartwatch, credit or debit card – without any cash or waiting time. Nine buses on lines 750 (Langen am Arlberg – Lech) and 760 (St. Anton am Arlberg – Lech) will be equipped with state-of-the-art NFC-enabled contact terminals.

“Taking public transport to the ski area in a relaxed manner is definitely the best choice. This also means that buying tickets should be as easy as possible. With the pilot project, we are creating a new offer for passengers and at the same time relieving the burden on bus drivers. Contactless ticket purchasing reduces standing times at stops and buses and passengers arrive at their destination on time.”explains Vorarlberg Transport Association Managing Director Christian Hillbrand.

Christian Schicker, Head of Commerce Development Austria at Mastercard, also underlines the importance of this pilot project: “The Arlberg project clearly shows how technology can easily make public transport more efficient and customer-friendly. By turning the payment card directly into a ticket – without detours or additional apps – we are making ticketing easier than ever before.”

This is how the payment card becomes a ticket:

When paying with a debit or credit card, guests receive a digital ticket that is stored encrypted in the background system of the card used – regardless of whether it was used physically or is stored on a cell phone or smartwatch. Instead of paper, you can rely on a modern, environmentally friendly solution. During an inspection, the ticket can be verified electronically by scanning the payment card. This complements the already successful digital offering with the FAIRTIQ app and creates another cashless payment option.

Further information at: https://www.vmobil.at/arlberg

Via Mastercard
Mastercard drives economic growth and empowers people in over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Together with our customers, we create a sustainable economy in which everyone can be successful. We support a wide range of digital payment options and make transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Our technologies and innovations, partnerships and networks combine to create a unique range of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their potential.

About VMOBILE
VMOBIL is the brand umbrella for climate-friendly mobility offers in Vorarlberg. Regardless of the line operator, all buses, trains, stops, service centers, tickets, car sharing cars, bike boxes, rental bikes, etc. have a uniform design. The core mission of VMOBIL as an overall system is, above all, to support the political goal of a modal shift towards sustainable mobility with the help of bundled communication.