Calypso, ITSO & VDV are the first to demonstrate interoperable multi-application smart ticketing in international public transport use. Three European smart ticketing organisations Calypso Networks Association (Belgium), ITSO (UK) and VDV (Germany) have demonstrated that a single smart card can be used for public transport across all three ticketing systems. In an innovative international multi-application demonstration, tickets from three national transport ticketing applications – British ITSO, French NaviGO and German Core Application (VDV-KA) – were loaded onto a card, proving that a single smart card can be used for travel on local public transport networks in different countries. This is a major step forward in smart ticketing technology, as most smart cards are currently restricted for use on a specific network. Interoperability demonstrations took place at the beginning of May 2010 during the UITP hosted Interoperable Fare Management Forum. The meeting and demonstration concluded the work of a two-and-a-half year EU-IFM Project, which objectives was to increase access to public transport networks in Europe and make it more user-friendly and compatible through provision of interoperable ticketing devices.

The Project was coordinated by ITSO. The interoperability demonstration was managed by RATP (France) with active participation from VDV and technical assistance from Nextendis (France) and ESP Systex (UK). The card used is a common production card from VDV. The EU IFM Project is funded by the European Commission under the 7th Community Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development through DG INFSO under the IST Programme: ICT for Transport.

Details of the EU IFM Project can be found at www.ifm-project.eu