Bern, 19 August 2025 – FAIRTIQ, the Swiss-based leader in mobile pay-as-you-go (MPAYG) ticketing, is making a major leap in its global expansion with three groundbreaking projects launching in Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Spanning national rail networks, a government-backed rail reform trial, and regional bus systems, these pilots will simplify travel, enhance the passenger experience, and set new standards for fair and accessible public transport.
Slovakia: First Nationwide MPAYG Pilot in Central and Eastern Europe
In partnership with ZSSK, Slovakia’s national railway operator, FAIRTIQ will roll out a one-year pilot covering the entire domestic rail network, including iconic tourist lines such as the Tatra Electric Railway and the Cogwheel Railway. Passengers will be able to start and end their journeys with just one swipe—no need to pre-select routes or zones.
“More than 52% of our customers already use digital services to purchase tickets via mobile or online platforms,” said Peter Helexa, CEO of ZSSK. FAIRTIQ is therefore a natural continuation for us on the path toward simpler and more convenient train travel,”
This marks FAIRTIQ’s first collaboration with a national railway operator in Central and Eastern Europe, following a successful regional launch in the neighbouring Czech Republic. The pilot will also generate anonymised insights into travel patterns, helping ZSSK optimise services while maintaining the highest data privacy standards.
United Kingdom: Digital PAYG (DPAYG) Ticketing Trial Under Government’s Plan for Rail
In partnership with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and Northern Trains—supported by TransPennine Express and Arriva CrossCountry—FAIRTIQ will deliver a nine-month trial on the Sheffield–Doncaster route in South Yorkshire. The pilot, part of the UK government’s Plan for Rail reform, will explore how mobile-first, digital PAYG (DPAYG) ticketing can make rail travel more accessible, transparent, and simple.
“We are delighted to bring FAIRTIQ’s proven, modern, multimodal technology to the UK rail network,” said Steve Broadley, UK Market Lead at FAIRTIQ. “By removing complexity from ticketing, we can make it easier and more appealing for people to use public transport – benefiting passengers, operators, and the environment.”
Up to 1,000 participants will use the FAIRTIQ app to start and end journeys with a single swipe, with fares automatically calculated at the best available rate. The trial will gather valuable passenger feedback to inform the future of UK ticketing.
Norway: First Distance-Based Fare Pilot
FAIRTIQ’s first project in Norway, in collaboration with Brakar—the public transport authority for Buskerud County—introduces the country’s first distance-based mobile ticketing pilot. This one-year test phase replaces the traditional zone system with a pricing model based on actual distance travelled.
“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 run on all Brakar lines in Lier, Drammen, and Øvre Eiker, allowing passengers to join with a simple swipe in the FAIRTIQ app. The findings will help shape future fare strategies in Norway and could inspire similar initiatives nationwide.
Trusted by Millions to Simplify Public Transport
Since its launch in Switzerland, FAIRTIQ has powered nearly 300 million trips and serves 1.4 million active users monthly in nine countries. The app uses GPS to detect journeys, automatically calculates the best available fare, and ensures passengers never risk buying the wrong ticket.
“Our mission is to make public transport seamless, fair, and accessible everywhere,” said Gian-Mattia Schucan, FAIRTIQ founder and co-CEO. “With these new projects, we’re showing how smart mobile ticketing can transform travel experiences—whether nationwide in Slovakia, regionally in Norway, or on the UK rail network.”
FAIRTIQ’s latest partnerships in Slovakia, Norway, and the UK follow successful deployments in Switzerland, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Austria, and the Czech Republic—cementing its role as a driving force in the shift towards simpler, more intuitive public transport. The company strictly adheres to GDPR requirements and uses location data only from the start to the end of a journey — and solely for the purpose of calculating the correct fare. FAIRTIQ’s hardware-free solution enables fast, affordable delivery of integrated, multimodal public transport ticketing.
You can find detailed press releases about the launch in Slovakia, Norway and the UK here: https://fairtiq.com/en/press-releases
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