Public transport smart card not a hit with train users

Just 5% of rail users have moved over to the public transport smart card ticketing system, the Telegraaf reports on Monday.


The ov-chipkaart is supposed to replace paper tickets on trains, trams and buses nationwide. The cards are currently the only way of paying for public transport in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
But despite expensive advertising campaigns, only 300,000 rail journeys a week are being paid for using the smart card, the Telegraaf says. Dutch trains carry some 1.1 million passengers a day.
Dutch Rail has said it will end the use of paper tickets when a majority of train users have adopted the smart card.
The introduction of the card has been beset by problems. Last week the Financeele Dagblad said public transport companies are earning thousands of euros a month from people who forget to check out after ending their journey.

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