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The so-called credit model has already been piloted for a year. With this, the public transport industry wants to react to the changed usage behavior of its customers. Around one in five GA travelcards has been canceled since the pandemic.
The pandemic has also changed our working life: Those who can work from home commute less. This is a challenge for public transport. Subscriptions such as the Generalabonnement (GA) are becoming less attractive and new models are needed.
It is now clear: In a year, i.e. when the timetable changes in 2023, the so-called credit model will definitely be introduced throughout Switzerland. This is confirmed by Helmut Eichhorn from the Alliance Swisspass, the association of transport companies.
Credit for point-to-point tickets or a day pass
Public transport companies have been piloting it for a year. “We are planning to offer a solution by the end of 2023 that is very closely based on this market test of public transport credit, as we are currently carrying it out,” says Eichhorn.
With the new model, there is a credit worth 1,000 francs for 800 francs. This can be used to buy route tickets or day tickets. The new subscription is intended to close the gap between the Half-Fare travelcard and the GA. «It is a combination of planning certainty in terms of costs and ultimately full freedom in use. And that goes down,” says Eichhorn.
With the new model, the public transport industry is also reacting to the changed usage behavior of its customers. In the corona pandemic, sales of GA travelcards plummeted. Around half a million were in circulation before the corona restrictions, a peak value. But then every fifth GA was cancelled.
Price monitor calls for tariff system adjustments
A setback for the industry that has not yet been made up for. According to Eichhorn, the consequence of the pandemic is “that customers have dealt with their behavior and their consumption of public transport and then partly switched from the GA to other product categories”.
Customers have considered their public transport consumption and some have then switched from the GA to other product categories.
Today, for example, they buy single tickets again. The price monitor therefore called for adjustments to the tariff system, and there was talk of a “home office GA”. The new subscription is also a result of these arguments.
It is still unclear how the second tested subscription will continue, the so-called Flexi subscription, which is currently being tested in Vaud and Freiburg. This is a subscription that is activated on individual days. Whether and where this system will definitely be introduced is still unclear at the moment.