Bus and Train Cash Payment Investigation by KVB Concludes
Cologne's public transport system is set to undergo a significant change in the coming years, with plans to transition to a cashless payment system. The plans, which are scheduled to be implemented until 2027, are inspired by the success of a similar system in Bonn.
Stephan Anemueller, a representative from Cologne's public transport company (KVB), has confirmed that cash payments can still be made in buses and trains for the time being. However, the company is considering removing ticket machines from buses and trains, making digital payments the only option.
Currently, only 4% of tickets are paid for in cash, and the new system would eliminate the need for cash payments within vehicles. The system, already successful in Bonn, involves holding a smartphone, bank card, or credit card against a reading device to check in and out for a journey. The most favorable tariff for the journey is automatically calculated after checking out.
The success of the cashless system in Bonn is being used as a reference for its potential implementation in Cologne. The transition could potentially lead to a fundamental change in the way journeys are paid for in the future.
No specific details about the systems being considered have been revealed yet. Information is being collected about potential systems for cashless payments across city borders. The timeline for the full implementation of cashless payments in Cologne's public transport system is several years.
It's important to note that this change will not affect sales points, kiosks, and machines at stops in Cologne. Ticket machines at stations will remain in Cologne as well.
Legislative steps related to such changes are expected earliest from October 2025 onward, with draft laws and hearings planned but no exact schedule known yet. There is currently no specific public timetable announced for ending cash payments on buses and trains operated by the Cologne public transport company.
City Works Bonn and Cologne Public Transport (KVB) are the sources for this information. The plans for the transition are set to be implemented until 2027, marking a significant step towards a more digital future for Cologne's public transport system.
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