Cashless payment and prompt information about delays

There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your bus or train pull out as you continue to rummage in your pocket for the right change for the ticket machine. RFID puts an end to this frustration.

On mass transit networks around the world, passengers are benefiting from automatic, contactless payment systems based on RFID. It’s quite simple. You board your bus, hold your RFID-enabled mobile phone or an RFID card in front of a ticket reader and purchase your ticket automatically. You may even qualify for a discount, depending on how many trips you make. This is calculated in the bill you receive at the end of the month. This type of system is already in place in several German cities and in Finland.

In fact, across Finland, passengers can use an RFID card as an electronic ticket. They simply move their cards in front of a reader and the system detects whether the passenger has a valid ticket. In London, about 10 million commuters use the so-called Oyster card, which enables paperless ticketing. The transit card can even be combined with an RFID-enabled credit card that allows users to buy their tickets and other goods from RFID-enabled terminals.

Riding the rails

The same ticketing solutions are also increasingly available for long-distance train journeys. In Norway, some ticket collectors on trains carry mobile readers in order to check passengers' electronic tickets. Payment is fast and straightforward, allowing passengers to enjoy more of the fabulous scenery. Germany’s national railway plans to test technology that will allow passengers to pay for their rail travel by pushing a button on their RFID-enabled mobile phones when they enter or exit a train. This means they don't have to calculate in advance what their fare will be.

The story goes on. RFID will also provide passengers with better information about transit schedules and delays. Buses and trains are equipped with RFID readers. When they arrive at a particular bus stop or train station, the readers interrogate tags placed at the station. The unique ID on the station’s tag is sent to a central database together with the exact arrival time of the vehicle. Transport officials use the information to reduce congestion and keep passengers up to date on delays.