Skip to main content

MoU is first step towards an EU intelligent fare management alliance

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday by representatives of the organisations for technical specifications of VDV KA (Germany), ITSO (UK), AFIMB (France) and Calypso Network Association together with representatives of UITP (International Association of Public Transport).
March 13, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday by representatives of the organisations for technical specifications of 3837 VDV KA (Germany), 3836 ITSO (UK), AFIMB (France) and 3835 Calypso Network Association together with representatives of UITP (3833 International Association of Public Transport). The MoU presents a platform for cooperation and a way forward to establish a European Alliance for developing European transport ticketing interoperability. It was signed at the IT-TRANS conference organised by UITP and KMK (3834 Karlsruher Messe-und Kongress GmbH).

Yesterday also saw another major step forward in making transport ticketing across parts of Europe simpler and easier for passengers. An EU IFM (integrated fare management) Alliance is proposed to be set up and supported by the EU Commission that creates a trust scheme for public transport smartcards that mirrors the trust schemes in the mobile phone and banking industries.

Once the EU-IFM Alliance has been created and is operational, there are plans for a pilot be created to test the portal, the trust scheme and the necessary compliance of smartcards as they interoperate between transport schemes and across mobile phone networks and with bankcards.

The electronic ticketing issue features strongly in the EU ITS agenda, being included in the white paper on transport strategy, the ITS directive and a priority for DG Move Urban ITS expert group. It also addresses the challenge by EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas to be able to access public transportation wherever you are in Europe and to hold all your ticketing in a single smart wallet.

Related Content

  • Ertico weaves tunnel visions into the ‘big picture’
    April 7, 2017
    As he takes the wheel at Ertico - ITS Europe, Jacob Bangsgaard talks to ITS International about the challenges and opportunities facing the organisation and the ITS industry. Ertico - ITS Europe’s new CEO, Jacob Bangsgaard, is no stranger to the organisation having spent five years there before moving to the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) in 2006. Four years later he became director general of the FIA’s Region I (EMEA), which represents more than 100 mobility clubs, and in 2012 he joined Er
  • Ertico weaves tunnel visions into the ‘big picture’
    April 7, 2017
    As he takes the wheel at Ertico - ITS Europe, Jacob Bangsgaard talks to ITS International about the challenges and opportunities facing the organisation and the ITS industry. Ertico - ITS Europe’s new CEO, Jacob Bangsgaard, is no stranger to the organisation having spent five years there before moving to the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) in 2006. Four years later he became director general of the FIA’s Region I (EMEA), which represents more than 100 mobility clubs, and in 2012 he joined Er
  • Cross border enforcement a logical step
    January 30, 2012
    The logic supporting a cross-border enforcement Directive for the European Union (EU) is both detailed and compelling. The White Paper on European transport policy published in 2001 included the ambitious objective of reducing by 50 per cent by 2010 the number of people killed on the roads of the EU. But since 2005 the reduction in the number of road deaths has been slowing down: overall, the period from 2001 until 2009 saw the number of fatalities decrease by 36 per cent. According to Community indicators,
  • European ITS Congress emphasises ITS development and deployment
    January 26, 2012
    The 8th European ITS Congress is a key event for the industry. Hermann Meyer, CEO of Ertico-ITS Europe puts the event in context