SMART TICKETING ALLIANCE
Trust in Ticketing
The Smart Ticketing Alliance (STA) is a non-profit association that promotes and facilitates cooperation between national and regional smart ticketing systems to implement interoperable smart ticketing in Europe and elsewhere. Therefore, STA has become the integrated platform for European transport authorities, transport operators and providers, industry and policy makers to promote, standardise and further develop ticketing and seamless travel in Europe.
We are working on these topics
Passengers should have a say in the technologies they use to plan, pay for, and complete their journeys, while public transport operators need access to the latest innovations to better serve their customers. Our experts collaborate closely with our members to make this a reality.
National Digital Tickets
With the launch of the Deutschland Ticket in Germany, the focus on national digital ticketing solutions has become more prominent among our members. For this reason, we have launched a stakeholder dialogue on national digital ticketing. Between September 2024 and May 2025, a structured dialogue will be held with the public transport sector itself, the ticketing industry, and key stakeholders who influence the public transport sector. We've also established a dedicated working stream to drive innovation and collaboration in this area.
Account Based Ticketing
Account-based ticketing offers a modern alternative to traditional card-based fare collection. STA members are developing a unified approach to ensure a consistent and scalable implementation, serving as a reference for policymakers and preventing fragmented solutions in public transport.
Certification
The STA certification program unites authorized Certification Bodies to ensure transportation and acceptance media meet compliance standards.
Ticketing in MaaS
One of the major challenges in MaaS ticketing is the varying levels of digitization across cities, regions, and countries. Together with UITP, our members successfully addressed this issue.
NFC-Ticketing
Mobile phones are being used as a ticketing medium in public transport. This is thanks to the GSMA, the NFC Forum - and the STA.
Glossary.
The STA Glossary working group ensures common terminology and thus investment protection through a common understanding.
Together we think - and shape - ticketing in Europe
Europeans enjoy free movement across the EU. Yet there is no European standard or integrated ticketing scheme that people can use to travel from one country to another. We believe that there is room for all technologies in Europe. But we need common rules and regulations and common definitions to enable seamless mobility and interoperability beyond national borders. The STA is the driving partner in the Ticketing eco system and is heard in various boards and committees: from the Multimodal Passenger Mobility Forum of the EU Commission to the NFC Forum. There we bring in the voices of our members as well as the results of our Working Groups.
Do you want to be part of the Smart Ticketing Alliance and help shape the future of ticketing in Europe?
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