Boost efforts to develop intermodal ticketing, say Transport MEPs

Transport services providers and providers of journey planners should build on existing synergies and cooperate more closely on providing multimodal, cross-border journey planners, European Commission transport MEPs said. They are calling on the Commission to take the measures necessary to support and facilitate the efforts being made on development of intermodal ticketing.
May 29, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Transport services providers and providers of journey planners should build on existing synergies and cooperate more closely on providing multimodal, cross-border journey planners, European Commission transport MEPs said.  They are calling on the Commission to take the measures necessary to support and facilitate the efforts being made on development of intermodal ticketing.

Transport MEPs ask member states, by 2020 at the latest, to introduce national updated timetable and fares information systems ‘on the basis of open interfaces linking the travel data’ for regional and local urban public transport. By 2024 these should be linked on a cross-border basis and made accessible to operators, to providers of journey planners and to consumers.

All local public transport should be equipped with intelligent systems relaying real-time information about the position of the transport vehicle, MEPs add.

If no significant progress in creating integrated, interoperable multimodal, cross-border ticketing systems is made by 2020, they ask the Commission to take legislative action by introducing minimum rules, building on the progress already made and the voluntary initiatives already introduced.

“Up to now, it is too difficult and sometimes impossible to get tickets for a cross border travel - especially if someone wants to use different modes, for example a train and a bus,” said Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (EPP, DE). “In our modern and online times, we must be able to create a more integrated ticket. This would make the lives of travellers so much easier. It doesn't need to stay a dream, let's start working on this now," he added.

Transport MEPs repeated calls for a Charter of passenger rights covering all modes of transport to be presented by the Commission by the end of 2017. This charter should include a separate section on multimodal journeys with clear and transparent protection of passengers´ rights “in the multimodal context taking account of the specific characteristics of each transport mode, and integrated multimodal ticketing”, they added.

More attention should also be paid to the needs of people with disabilities or limited mobility as well as to the special requirements of elderly people in relation to access to travel information before and during journeys, MEPs stressed.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Multi-modal transport system key to liveable city development
    June 20, 2012
    Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme aims to transform Kuala Lumpur into one of the world’s most liveable cities. Mohd Nur Kamal, CEO of SPAD, Malaysia’s Land Transport Commission, explains how a world class multi-modal transport system will be key to reaching that goal Superficially, Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is commonly known, is the model of a vibrant, modern, cosmopolitan city to equal any in the world. The Petronas Twin Towers, an iconic global symbol of Malaysia, are surrounded by stunningly
    Read More
  • Asecap Days delves beneath the surface of tolling
    August 8, 2017
    Colin Sowman picks his highlights from Asecap’s 45th annual Study and Information Days in Paris. European tolling association Asecap holds annual Study & Information Days, provides delegates with updates on the latest moves and thinking in the tolling sector and is a key meeting place for concessionaires from 22 countries. The importance of road transport to the French economy was highlighted by the country’s director general of transport infrastructures, François Poupard, in the opening session. He told th
    Read More
  • Smart phones offer smarter way to pay for travel
    December 16, 2013
    David Crawford reviews developments in near field communications for mass transit payments. ‘A carefully-designed and well-implemented mobile near field communications (NFC) solutions can give passengers a compelling experience that will encourage them to make greater use of public transport.’ That was the confident conclusion of a recent joint White Paper drawn up by the International Association of Public Transport and the global mobile operators’ representative group GSMA.
    Read More
  • Progress towards a pan-European cooperative infrastructure
    July 17, 2012
    Kallistratos Dionelis, General Secretary of ASECAP, makes the case for a lightly regulated, staged progression towards a pan-European cooperative infrastructure environment, the achievement of which should look to engender cooperation between the public and private sectors. Such an approach, he says, is the only real path to success.
    Read More

Highlighted Content