Smarter train travel with an intelligent ticketing system – Östgötatrafiken leads the way
Public transport should be simple, safe, and comfortable – that's the foundation of Östgötatrafiken's work to encourage more people to choose sustainable travel over driving. A key part of this is removing unnecessary barriers and offering modern digital services that make the journey smoother. With a smart and secure contactless ticketing system, Östgötatrafiken can offer passengers a frictionless public transport experience across all its vehicles.
Östgötatrafiken enables 140, 000 journeys every day and works continuously to encourage more people to choose public transport over cars. Since 2020, passengers have been able to buy tickets on city buses and trams simply by tapping their payment card – and the system is now live on all trains as well.
Mission: better public transport, more riders
Östgötatrafiken's mission is to provide accessible public transport options and increase the share of public transport trips in the region. Only 20% of motorized journeys are made by public transport, compared to 80% by car. The goal is to make public transport an attractive choice for more residents.
Ylva Aspenberg, Head of Business Development at Östgötatrafiken
Simple and secure ticketing that makes travel easier
Östgötatrafiken and Telia have worked together since 2019 to implement smart ticketing that simplifies travel. Contactless validators let passengers buy tickets with their bank card or smartwatch on board, without the hassle of advance purchases or loading travel cards for single trips. The system has been very well received and now accounts for around 11% of all ticket sales.
First in Sweden to implement contactless validation on trains
Östgötatrafiken is now the first region in Sweden to implement contactless ticketing on its commuter trains. This was a major undertaking, given the rigorous requirements for passenger and fire safety on board, as well as technical reliability and robust systems to minimize potential accidents or technical failures.
Ylva Aspenberg, Head of Business Development at Östgötatrafiken
Innovation for better customer satisfaction
Östgötatrafiken continues to explore new ways to improve travel with Telia and Ridango. One future goal is to further simplify ticket validation for commuters.
Ylva Aspenberg, Head of Business Development at Östgötatrafiken
Five benefits of Telia Ticket Sales & Validation
Simple tap-and-go experience
Low operating costs – no extensive infrastructure required
Supports modern and convenient payment methods
Automatic best-price guarantee for passengers
Integrates with mobile apps and other services (MaaS)
Technical overview
Telia's smart public transport services offer efficient ticketing for public transport operators. The passenger experience is improved by simplifying ticket purchases.
About the system
Smart contactless ticketing on board public transport vehicles from Telia and technology partner Ridango.
Ticketing system:
Account-Based Ticketing (ABT), where all ticket information is linked to a digital account in the back end
Payment methods:
Contactless bank cards (EMV)
Mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
QR codes and NFC
Travel cards
How the technology works
Technology platform:
Telia IoT Edge – powerful onboard device for data collection, connectivity, and remote management
Ticket validators and network components onboard trains and buses
Works both online and offline with regular data synchronization
Security:
Fully PCI-DSS certified payment platform
Secure card data and payment handling in compliance with international standards
Benefits:
Convenient "tap and go" experience
Low operating costs – requires minimal infrastructure
Supports modern digital payment methods
Automatic best price application for passengers
Integrates with mobile apps and other services (MaaS)