Largest RFID Fair Collection System

Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council has introduced the new travel card system in public transport, based on proximity cards and readers. The project on the new travel card system is the largest of its kind in Europe. Finnish Idesco Oy supplies additional 300 000 proximity cards to the system. After this Idesco's travel cards will have over a million users in the public transport in Helsinki region.

The new system replaces old cardboard tickets in public transport. New proximity travel cards delivered by Idesco are reloadable and they can be loaded with time, value or both. The travel card is valid in buses, trams, commuter trains, metros and ferries that operate in the public transport in Helsinki region. When entering the vehicle or the platform area, the passenger presents the travel card to the reader and the journey will be accepted. The system has many benefits over the old cardboard tickets.

The passengers can reload their cards for instance at service points and stations but also at many kiosks and shops all over the Helsinki region. They can also follow the sum they have loaded or the journeys they have spent in real time. The cards also collect exact information about the passenger volumes which helps in route planning.