Drammen/Bern, 19 August 2025 – FAIRTIQ is proud to announce its first collaboration in Norway, joining forces with Brakar, the public transport authority in the Buskerud region, to pilot an innovative distance-based fare model. This groundbreaking initiative marks a national first: a seamless postpaid solution that charges passengers based on the actual distance travelled—doing away with the traditional zone-based fare system.
The one-year pilot project will launch this autumn in the Norwegian region of Buskerud, which stretches westward from the outskirts of Oslo and includes both urban and rural areas. It is part of a broader effort by Brakar to make public transport more attractive and user-friendly. The project responds to feedback from residents and travellers, many of whom have voiced concerns about the perceived unfairness of the current zone-based pricing system.
“Today’s zone system is often perceived as unfair,” says Terje Sundfjord, CEO of Brakar. “We have been tasked by the Buskerud County Council to explore new pricing models. Distance-based payment was a natural next step.”
The pilot will be operated through FAIRTIQ’s mobile app, which allows passengers to start their trip with a simple swipe before boarding and automatically ends their trip once arrived at the final destination. The app identifies the complete trip taken—including transfers and intermediate stops and calculates the fare accordingly. It follows strict legal privacy and data handling rules.
“We’re excited to partner with Brakar and bring our mobile pay-as-you-go technology to Norway,” says Gian-Mattia Schucan, founder and co-CEO of FAIRTIQ. “This project is fully aligned with our mission to make public transport seamless, fair, and accessible to everyone.”
This autumn, Brakar will be recruiting pilot users to test the new app. Brakar aims to have a minimum of 500 active participants. To join the pilot, travelers simply need to download the FAIRTIQ app from their App Store or Google Play Store. The pilot will be available on all Brakar lines operating in Lier, Drammen, and Øvre Eiker—including lines 100, 101, and 169. The test phase will run for one year, giving passengers the opportunity to experience a more seamless and distance-based way of travelling.
The findings from this pilot will inform strategic discussions in 2026 about the future of ticketing and fare evolution in the region. If successful, the distance-based model could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across Norway and beyond.
With Norway, FAIRTIQ expands its presence to a third Nordic country, following its success in Denmark and Sweden.
About Brakar
Brakar is the public transport authority in the region of Buskerud. Brakar has around 12.5 million journeys a year with an annual revenue of approximately NOK 220 million. Brakar has offered its customers mobile ticketing since 2015, and almost 90 percent of Brakar's ticket revenue comes from sales in the mobile app. Brakar currently operates around 350 buses and one ferry. Brakar's strong focus on new technology has led to the operation of Norway's first all-electric bus line in 2018, an almost all-electric bus fleet in 2025 and the first county with fossil-free bus operations. Brakar tested the very first self-driving bus line in Norway and is working to take self-driving buses one step further into the future.
Press picture
Press picture Brakar
|
About FAIRTIQ How does FAIRTIQ work |
Share