SLOVAKIA: National train operator ZSSK and Fairtiq are to undertake a nationwide trial of mobile pay-as-you-go ticketing. This aims to simplify access to public transport and generate anonymised data providing deeper insights into travel patterns.
The one-year pilot scheme starting in January 2026 will include all domestic routes operated by ZSSK, including the Tatra Electric Railway and rack railway. Passengers will swipe on the Fairtiq app at the start of their journey and swipe again when they arrive, with the app using GPS to determine the route travelled and the appropriate fare.
‘More than 52% of our customers already use digital services to purchase tickets via mobile or online platforms’, said ZSSK CEO Peter Helexa. ’Fairtiq is therefore a natural continuation for us on the path toward simpler and more convenient train travel.’
If the pilot is successful, it could pave the way for a long-term nationwide deployment of the swipe-in swipe-out technology.
‘Together with ZSSK, we’re bringing the future of public transport to Slovakia’, said Fairtiq founder and co-CEO Gian-Mattia Schucan. ‘Our shared goal is to make travel easier and more intuitive — so that more people choose public transport, more often.’
