CB launches its Open Payment Pass

French card and mobile payment system CB has just unveiled its latest Open Payment initiative. It takes the form of a new ticket purchasing system accessible in Transvilles network vehicles. Dubbed the “Pass CB”, this new system, which uses the bankcard as a ticket holder, aims to make the purchase of transport tickets simpler and more convenient.

FACTS

• Since December 2, CB has been offering its “Pass CB” on board certain bus and streetcar vehicles, enabling users to buy and validate their tickets using their bankcard or any connected object (smartphone or connected watch, for example).
  CB is responsible for this deployment on the Transvilles network, the public transport network of Valenciennes and its surrounding area.

• The entire tramway fleet is involved, as well as 80% of the bus fleet.
  In terms of technology, the “Pass CB” incorporates a new on-board Open Payment technology, and requires the installation of an additional special box essential to the system's operation. 240 validators have already been installed.

• For users, the “Pass CB” ticket is available at no extra cost, at a single price of 1.60 euros. Valid for one hour, this ticket must be validated each time you board a streetcar or bus in the network, including when transferring.
  The system allows passengers to purchase up to 5 additional tickets, for a total of 6.

• CB specifies that the teams of ticket inspectors have received specific training to manage this deployment. In the event of a check, passengers equipped with the system are asked to present their bankcard or telephone to the Transvilles agent.

CHALLENGES

• Completing the system: The new “Pass CB” is offered as a complement to the traditional way of purchasing tickets from drivers. CB's aim is to complement existing systems, without replacing them completely, in order to guarantee accessibility for all users.

• Attracting occasional customers: CB's objective is also to offer a practical, fast solution for occasional customers. This is a major issue in public transport, where unpaid fares are a recurring problem in France, impacting on the finances of transport operators. The SNCF and RATP, for example, consider this issue to be a priority. In 2013, the French Court of Auditors estimated that RATP and SNCF lost 366 million euros in revenue and the cost of combating fare evasion. The Ile-de-France region is particularly hard hit by financial losses linked to transport fraud.

MARKET PERSPECTIVE

• The new “Pass CB” is the result of a nationwide collaborative effort. It has been set up in collaboration with CB and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Union and the Hauts-de-France Region. Crédit Mutuel and CIC are responsible for payment acceptance, and Flowbird, a player in urban mobility, is developing the software solution in partnership with the Keolis Group.

• Today, this deployment is supported by CB, the benchmark for card payment sovereignty in France. This underlines the importance of offering an open payment solution that can be interoperable.

• Of course, this is not CB's first Open Payment initiative. In 2021, the group announced that it would be granting approval to Flowbird's Sesame mobility solution.