The trial of the new ticket and payment system for local transport begins

The city of Imatra introduces a new ticket system for buses. We are now looking for a pilot group to test that system.

─ The purpose of the group is to find the things that we still need to refine before wider implementation, city engineer Päivi Pekkanen says.

The new devices will be installed in the buses in March. The city will search by then 50-150 people as test users from different age groups and different users. For example, school children, commuters, pensioners, evening hobbyists, families and representatives of special groups are needed as test users.

They are offered free trips during the pilot, but in return they are required to report on user experiences.

Old travel cards work throughout the pilot period alongside the new system and even after that.

─ Based on our experiences, we are thinking about how to implement the change of the payment system, project manager Jukka Partinen says.

Real-time information about bus movements

In practice, the new payment system means that bus passengers can download a free application that offers real-time information about bus movements all the time. It lets you know if, for example, the bus is late and by how much.

At the same time, paying for trips also becomes more diversified. New travel cards can be ordered from the online service, which also allows for top-ups. The travel card can also be loaded on the bus as before. You can also buy mobile tickets online, in which case you can get the ticket on your mobile phone.

In addition, for example, a family can acquire one travel account that can have many users. Trip payments are cleared in real time when the QR code is used in cars. Such travel accounts are not yet available elsewhere.

The system is supplied by an Estonian software company Ridango

It is a project of Business Finland, which is looking for new ways of operating in the province's public transport on a wider scale. The now launched bus payment and app communication is only part of the project.

The working title of the project is Mobility renewal in the South Karelia region.

Sign up for the pilot group from here

For more information:

Project manager Jukka Partinen, tel. 020 617 4419, jukka. beardedimatra.fi (jukka[dot]partinen[at]imatra[dot]fi)

City engineer Päivi Pekkanen, paivi. pekkanenimatra.fi (paivi[dot]pekkanen[at]imatra[dot]fi), P. 020-6174418