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The multi-trip card will be discontinued at the end of 2025: It’s not just consumer protection that sees this critically.
Put the ticket in the orange machine, validate it and drive off: This will end at the end of 2025. In the future, the multi-trip ticket for stamping for trains, buses and trams will only be available digitally. Consumer protection criticizes this step. These tickets were particularly popular with children and older people. “It is not correct to assume that you have to give children at an early age a cell phone in order to buy a ticket. There are also people who cannot or do not want to buy the ticket digitally. You have to respect that.”
According to Helmut Eichhorn, Managing Director of Alliance Swisspass, a possible solution for replacing tickets already exists: the Swisspass. This can function as a prepaid card and is already in use in French-speaking Switzerland. “But it is true that we have not yet formulated a definitive solution for all customer groups.”
A solution is needed that is possible for everyone.
Consumer advocate Stalder counters that public transport is part of the public service. You have to make sure that the entire population can actually use this service: “We need a solution that is possible for everyone. “For those who are affected by poverty, for example, it is difficult to get a credit card that has to be stored digitally,” she gives another example.
There is no fundamental discussion about the public service
Stephan Sigrist, digitalization expert from ThinkTank Wire, is of the same opinion. He suspects that more and more companies are taking their cues from the large technology companies in the USA.
He cites Apple as an example, which first removed the CD/DVD drives from laptops and later also removed the headphone jack from iPhones. «Private companies can introduce such changes. If consumers don’t like it, they can switch to other companies. “It looks different with the public service,” says Sigrist.
Dual systems will continue to be needed.
Sigrist is fundamentally neutral about the fact that the multi-journey ticket will soon be a thing of the past, because: “There are still alternatives, you can buy a normal analog ticket.” And Sigrist is convinced that it should stay that way: “Dual systems will continue to be needed. You can’t force people to use digital content.”
But Eichhorn reassures: The situation will be reviewed this summer. “If we have the impression that we are not yet ready for the change, we have to talk about adjusting the timing.” But: Many cancellation machines are getting old. “The question inevitably arises: should we renew these machines or not? Do we continue with this system or can we create alternative offers?” We have been working on these since 2020.
Digitalization expert Sigrist is missing a discussion about what services you want to offer for trains, buses and trams. “My assumption is that this is not done enough. You have to take people with you and enter into a dialogue with them.” Companies have the chance to build trust if they engage in conversation instead of presenting people with a fait accompli.