Implementation of a Public Transport Smartcard Nationwide in the Netherlands

This paper describes how the Netherlands is making steady progress in its policy goal of implementing a public transport smartcard in all forms of public transport nationwide, including the railways. The initial technical problems have been ironed out and organizational difficulties resolved. This has been achieved by adopting a coordinated strategy of gradual introduction of the smartcard in phases and periodic monitoring of public acceptance. Research studies and questionnaire surveys have been undertaken. System-wide implementation has been made possible after extensive trials with diverse groups of users, including the elderly and the handicapped. The objectives of the trials are to ascertain the robustness of the technology in a demanding operating environment and to have feedback from the users regarding their perceptions and real-life experiences. The national policy goal is to enable the travelers to use the smartcard to travel on any form of public transport throughout the entire country. Smartcards are compatible in all regions; however, operators can have their own design and livery. The project is a joint commercial enterprise by the operators and supported by the Transport Ministry. The operational objective is to take advantage of advanced automated fare collection (AFC) technology to replace the paper ticket that has been used in urban and regional public transport since 1980.