Photo: Saskia Winter (left) and Peggy Klaus/EVAG, Steve Bauerschmidt
EVAG is testing a new cashless cash register system for buses
The Erfurt transport company is now starting a three-week test phase for cashless payment on buses. For the test, two MAN EVAG buses will be equipped with a new cash register system. Passengers can pay on the two test buses with all common debit and credit cards. Appropriately configured smartphones or smartwatches are also supported.
“Payment is very easy. Specify the destination to the bus driver, hold the card and you're done. There is no need to enter a PIN,” explains EVAG sales manager Anja Kümmell, who has already tested the new cash register system. The aim of the test phase is to put the new cash register system through its paces. If successful, the system will be gradually installed in all EVAG buses.
Anja Kümmell: “The advantages of cashless payments are obvious. It's safe, fast and convenient. We hope to improve operational processes here because, for example, our drivers no longer have to handle cash.” The test buses will be used primarily on line 9 and are marked on the outside with a sticker.
Good to know: The majority of EVAG passengers already use cashless payment; three out of four tickets are paid digitally. In 2023, the rate of cashless payments in total sales was 77%, and in 2019 it was 39% - and the trend continues to rise.
Nevertheless, the transport companies offer to purchase tickets using cash. This is possible throughout the city at over 20 EVAG agencies or at 55 bus stop machines. The EVAG mobility center on Anger also accepts coins and banknotes.
Source: EVAG