Will a single ticket (and possibly a single fare) for public transport be the big idea for European transport in 2023? Following the introduction of the €9 ticket last year in Germany - a promotion offering free travel for a month on all regional public transport services - the success of the operation has led to the continuation of this type of ticket in Germany (see box). The Netherlands has also just launched a unique card concentrating all public transport services.
Why shouldn't France do the same? This should be the case from 2025. In an interview with the daily 20 Minutes, Minister for Transport Clément Beaune has announced the launch of a hackathon (technological programming competition).
One ticket, one price?
The aim is to create a single ticket valid throughout France.. For the Minister, " we can see that the attractiveness of public transport on a daily basis also depends to a large extent on the service provided in terms of safety, cleanliness, passenger information, compensation and ease of access. [And] the single ticket to simplify users' lives is a real revolution in transport." .
Some 70 technological responses were submitted to this hackathon, which attracted start-ups as well as major institutions such as RATP and SNCF. Ultimately, the single ticket to replace multiple zones across the country. According to Clément Beaune, should be up and running very quicklyThe minister said that the first trials in voluntary areas could begin before the end of the year.
A single ticket does not necessarily mean a single fare. Although it is conceivable that, in the long term, this could lead to a single fare for public transport journeys based on the model of the €49 ticket in Germany. But according to Clément Beaune at 20 Minutes, " it's not up to the State to tell the regions what they can offer and how much they can charge for transportIt's their responsibility. I make a distinction between the medium and the fare. Even if I think that the medium can lead to simplification of fares and encourage the organising authorities to propose common fares" .
He added: " If Germany is doing it, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to. We have good transport operators, very good innovators, local authorities that want to do it and a government that has this ambition." .
