Slovenia is Introducing a Multilateral Passenger Transport Ticket, By Which Public Transport Will Become More Accessible, Friendly, and Attractive

A multilateral passenger transport ticket will unify the use of different means of transport, and integrate the use of regular rail and inter-urban bus transport in Slovenia and urban transport in the two largest Slovenian cities in a single system. In practice, this means that in Slovenia, a passenger can choose the mode of public transport, which he shall use on particular route with a single card. "The project of introducing integrated public passenger transport or amultilateral passenger transport ticket is the finalphase of a complex 15-month project, which was ordered by the Ministry of Infrastructureand which will simplify the use of public passenger transport in Slovenia," said MSc. Boštjan Koren, director of the Slovenian Railways - Passenger transport, the leading partner in the IPPT project, highlighting the importance of the new system.

A multilateral passenger transport ticket will unify the use of different means of transport, and integrate the use of regular rail and inter-urban bus transport in Slovenia and urban transport in the two largest Slovenian cities in a single system. In practice, this means that in Slovenia, a passenger can choose the mode of public transport, which he shall use on particular route with a single card. "The project of introducing integrated public passenger transport or amultilateral passenger transport ticket is the finalphase of a complex 15-month project, which was ordered by the Ministry of Infrastructureand which will simplify the use of public passenger transport in Slovenia," said MSc. Boštjan Koren, director of the Slovenian Railways - Passenger transport, the leading partner in the IPPT project, highlighting the importance of the new system.

In practice, a multilateral passenger transport ticket will be used on buses and trains in inter-urban and urban transport, from 1 September 2016. The first phase will introduce a single subsidised ticket for pupils, students, and adult learners. "This is the largest group of public transportusers; therefore, we have decided that we shall first offer the service of amultilateral passenger transport ticket to them. Later, the system will be expanded with IPPT products, which areintended for other categories of public transport passengers in Slovenia," said MSc. Suzana Habjanič from the Service for Sustainable Mobility and Transport Policy at the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure.

The project focused not only on the technical introduction of a multilateral passenger transport ticket, but also on the establishment of the organisation of delivery and management of the system - from the design of concepts, development of systemic and technology solutions, testing, and final implementation of the system in practice. The IPPT system is based on an information solution that enables automated fare collection and electronic management with data in the system. Information portal http://www.ijpp.si, which in addition to the possibility to plan transportation provides passengers information on the use and operation of the system, points of sale, and access to online forms, also supports the service.

Integrated public passenger transport offers users improved accessibility and effectiveness of public means of transport, and better and friendlier services. "Europeancitizens'need for mobility comes first; therefore I am committed tomeeting people's need for mobility. At the same time, we support solutions that reduce congestion, pollution (including greenhouse gas emissions),and energy consumption, and include alternative energy sources. Sustainable mobility is environmentally acceptable, socially just,and stimulates the economy. I am pleased that the project of amultilateral passenger transport ticket for public passenger transport was realised in Slovenia, as it is an important step towards sustainable mobility.Amultilateral passenger transport ticket for public passenger transport will enable a multi-modal approach to become more simple and reliable. I wish that such service would extend to the entire European Single Market," said Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport at the introduction of the system. 85% of the total value of the project of introducing integrated public passenger transport (IPPT) is financed through European funds.