Ticket-purchase by mobile phone: Hafas2go enables Swiss Rail to provide new services
[Hannover, February 2009]
Just register, download and buy: for commuters in Switzerland it only takes three steps to
purchase a railway ticket easily and comfortably by using a mobile phone. In cooperation with
HaCon, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have created a pocket ticket-point-of-sale. The HaCon
software Hafas2go, a timetable-information-system for mobile phones, which is popular in
Switzerland as "SBB NaviGo", is used for the purchasing process as well as for storing the ticket.
Travellers need a Java-based mobile phone or smart phone in order to enroll at the ticket shop and to download the necessary software for free. After the payment by credit card has been completed, the valid mobile ticket is shown on the display of the mobile phone. When checking the tickets, conductors use their portable train conductor devices for reading the 2D barcode.
"This way we are moving even closer towards our customers", says SBB-CEO Andreas Meyer. "The mobile ticket is an additional easy and modern alternative to purchase a ticket on the way. In addition to the national range of products, day-trip-tickets are available. The service is planned to be expanded further.
For the ticketing HaCon has developed a new ticketing dialog language, that offers flexible expansion options combined with the background systems. Thus, without adapting or changing the software, server systems at SBB can be used to update the dialogues centrally.
The ticket itself is stored as a 2D barcode and can be read by the portable train conductor devices when tickets are checked. Photo: SBB
About HaCon
Right from the start in 1984 HaCon has focused its activities on traffic solutions.
A team of more than 125 experienced employees in the ranges of IT and
transport planning have turned the company into one of the leading players
in the field of planning, scheduling and information systems.
HaCon has developed and implemented the timetable information system of
Deutsche Bahn (German Railway). Furthermore, numerous European railway
companies, transport enterprises and/or groups use the timetable information
system HAFAS. In addition, HAFAS serves
as a universal information system. Therefore, it can be applied in the
flight
and goods traffic as well. One of the latest products developed by HaCon is
TPS, a system for train planning and
timetable management that has convinced customers across Europe.
Further Information:
HaCon Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Lister Str. 15, D-30163 Hannover
Tel. 0511 / 33699-0, Fax: 0511 / 33699-99,
Email: info@hacon.de