BIMS Revolutionizes Public Transport Ticketing in Central Sweden
Traveling between various regions in Sweden has long posed challenges due to fragmented ticketing systems, necessitating separate tickets for each county. To tackle this issue, five regions—Värmland, Örebro County, Dalarna, Gävleborg, and Uppsala—teamed up in 2003 with Tåg i Bergslagen AB to create a unified solution for cross-county transportation. This collaboration led to the development of BIMS, the Ticketing System in Central Sweden.
BIMS stands out as a collaborative platform enabling public transport authorities to co-procure and manage ticketing services effectively. Hugo Oljemark, CEO of BIMS AB and BIMS KB, notes that through this cooperation, regions have successfully reduced costs and devised a more uniform, user-friendly option for travelers.
Resource efficiency is another critical advantage highlighted by Sandi Pudic, technical manager in Region Värmland. He emphasizes that the partnership allows regions to utilize their resources more efficiently, both in terms of management and technological development, while also facilitating the sharing of ideas and innovations.
"There is enormous strength in this, and BIMS is a brilliant example of how such collaborations can yield long-term improvements," Pudic remarks.
Today, BIMS has evolved into Sweden's third-largest ticketing system, integrated across 2500 buses and 7080 trains, alongside various smaller vehicles. The system employs technology from the German firm Atron, with ongoing local adaptations to ensure a safe and user-friendly environment for both passengers and transport operators.
The system's versatility permits continual development in response to emerging needs. A recent enhancement, with support from Atron, has improved onboard information sharing on buses, potentially curtailing future hardware purchases, according to Pudic.
Hugo Oljemark asserts that BIMS exemplifies the dual benefits of collaboration: better service for travelers and a positive impact on regional economies. By sharing development and operational costs, each region can mitigate the financial burden of significant individual investments. BIMS makes ticket purchasing and inter-regional travel easier, promoting public transport as a more appealing option for the public.
Launched over two decades ago with EU funding, BIMS represents an innovative initiative by five regions and Tåg i Bergslagen AB to foster a common ticketing system for public transport, leading to a cost-effective and user-centric travel experience across regions.
For those interested in following the developments of BIMS, more information can be found on their LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/bimsabkb.
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