More people choosing new ways to buy tickets

Recent statistics show that more and more travelers are choosing to purchase tickets and cards in other ways than from the bus driver. Single tickets for Stadstrafiken in Uppsala are increasingly being purchased from a machine or by SMS. An ever increasing proportion of Regiontrafiken passengers are buying cards by direct debit or online.

Many public transit users are choosing to buy their tickets and cards through other outlets than on board the buses. For Stadstrafiken in Uppsala, single tickets are the item being purchased increasingly from machines or by SMS. For Regiontrafiken, the number of points of sale has increased as more people are choosing to buy their cards by direct debit or from the recently introduced online store on the UL website.

"UL wants to take it easier for passengers to purchase tickets in various ways, and at the same time, to help make the boarding process at bus stops go faster," said UL CEO Klas Wahlberg.

"Another positive effect is that cash handling on buses can be reduced, which is important for bus drivers' safety.

New opportunities to buy single tickets for Stadstrafiken in Uppsala were introduced in late spring. Passengers can now buy tickets from agents at Pressbyrån, kiosks and shops where previously only saver cards and temporary cards could be purchased. Ticket machines have also been installed in the Akademiska sjukhuset area and in Stora Torget. The difference in price is SEK 10 compared to buying the ticket on the bus, where a ticket costs SEK 30.
In early June, the SMS ticket was introduced as an additional option for purchasing a single ticket aboard the bus. SMS tickets also cost SEK 10 less than those purchased from the bus driver. The goal was to transform one quarter of all single ticket sales to sales through agents, from a machine or by SMS. Sales statistics now reveal that nearly half of all tickets sold are purchased through other means than from the bus driver.

"SMS sales have exceeded all expectations, and the record for one day is over 3600 SMS tickets," said Klas Wåhlberg.

66 percent of Regiontrafiken ticket sales come from agents, 26 percent from on board the bus, and 8 percent from direct debit and the Internet.

Currently, the number of travelers who choose to purchase temporary cards by direct debit is just under 2000. Passengers who purchase via direct debit receive an annual pass which is paid for over a 10-month period.
The latest addition to the sales channels available for purchasing temporary cards is the online store on the UL website.

For questions regarding this press release, please contact Klas Wåhlberg at 018-65 99 10 or 070-570 35 99