Ticketing soon superfluous
Starting in mid-2017, an app is set to offer all passengers a travel experience similar to that of a GA pass.
Specifically, the app in question is "Lezzgo" from the Bernese rail company BLS. It allows passengers to check in at the touch of a button when they board a public transport vehicle and check out again at the end of their journey. The app takes care of the rest, eliminating the need to buy a ticket. Within the trip, passengers can change trains as often as they like. At the end of the trip, the app determines and charges for the cheapest ticket. If another trip is taken on the same day, this is included in the ticket calculation.
As Schweiz am Sonntag writes in its current issue, BLS began test operations a few weeks ago and already combines the Libero (Bern-Biel-Solothurn region), Frimobil (Fribourg region) and Passepartout (Lucerne region) fare associations. The pilot project will end in the second quarter of 2017. If BLS has its way, the app will then be available for use throughout Switzerland.
However, this is an ambitious goal, because Switzerland has a complex fare jungle. For example, app developers would have to come to an agreement with the individual fare associations - such as Zurich's ZVV - which have tariff sovereignty over their own tickets. There are 20 fare systems in Switzerland with their own rules.
In addition, "Lezzgo" is not the only app that wants to get involved in public transport ticketing. Fairtiq, for example, is an alternative in the starting blocks. The app works with all transport companies in the Frimobil, Passepartout, Libero, STI (Thun region) and Engadin Mobil (Upper Engadine region) tariff associations.
Stefan Kaufmann from ZVV confirmed to Schweiz am Sonntag that they currently have various offers from app providers on the table. Whether one or more apps will be chosen, however, is still open.
In the second half of the year, SBB could jump on the bandwagon and integrate the functions of "Lezzgo" into the new SBB app. (hae/SaS)
