E-Ticketing for Connexxion

With bus services, train connections and ferries in 17 transport regions, Connexxion is the leading transport operator in urban and regional transport in the Netherlands. The individual subcontractors currently operate around 1,600 buses – approx. 200 of which are electrically powered. To give passengers the option of cashless payment for their tickets when boarding, and to reduce cash transactions on the buses, all concessions have received the standard products of the IVU.suite.

Connexxion has been using the IVU.fleet traffic control system since 2005. In 2017, under the new framework agreement, the existing licences have been renewed and supplemented by agreements for an integrated ticketing solution including a background system and on-board computers. IVU supplied the fare-management solution IVU.fare and the proven on-board computers IVU.ticket.box for this. Along with the conventional paper printer, the devices are equipped with payment terminals for PIN entry. In addition, the system supports the Dutch e-ticketing standard SDOA for the national OV-chipkaart. 

An initial 109 vehicles with the IVU solution went into operation in Haarlem in 2017. After that, they were joined by a further 597 buses in the regions of Zeeland, Zaanstreek, Gooi en Vechtstreek and Zuidoost-Brabant for cashless payment as well as 276 fully equipped buses by the end of the year. Overall, around 1,600 vehicles were fitted with IVU on-board computers and new validators. The framework agreement runs for ten years, and also covers future concessions.

Bart Schmeink, CEO of Transdev Netherlands, says: “Our extremely positive experience with the IVU systems in the past, the modular overall concept of the IVU.suite and IVU’s experience with ticketing solutions all over the world encouraged us to continue our collaboration and extend it to fare management. We firmly believe that with this system, we have found the best solution for our concessions and especially our customers, who can now pay for their trips on an entirely cashless basis.”

Matthias Rust, COO of IVU Traffic Technologies, adds: “We are delighted that Connexxion has opted for our ticketing products. This order underlines the fact that we are ideally placed and ready for future scenarios with our standard solution. As a result, we are positioned throughout Europe as a reliable partner for payment systems in the public transport sector.”