MENU
SEARCHHID’s State of Mass Transit Ticketing Hardware Report 2025 shows the continuing shift to contactless and mobile payment methods as companies look for user-friendly interfaces for their fare collection hardware.
HID's State of Mass Transit Ticketing Report 2025 is based on a survey sent out to 102 mass transit providers worldwide and shows that nearly half of them are looking into deploying new ticketing and fare collection hardware.
Photo: HID
HID’s recently published State of Mass Transit Ticketing Hardware Report 2025 provides data that highlights five key priorities that transit companies should consider investigating.
Based on a survey of 102 mass transit providers worldwide, the report focuses on the shift to touch-free transactions and the adoption of contactless payment systems.
The first priority highlighted by the report is the reduction of reliance on cash payments and the streamlining of fare collection and operations.
Among agencies surveyed, 46% of them plan to deploy new ticketing and fare collection hardware, of those planning on these deployments, 88% of them are looking at doing so within the next 12-24 months.
A graph from the report shows when agencies are planning on deploying new fare collection hardware.
Photo: HID
When looking at new fare collection hardware, nearly two-thirds of agencies rank user-friendly interfaces as the most important feature. By prioritizing convenience and faster ticketing transactions, companies are hoping to enhance the passenger experience.
Magnetic stripe ticketing is currently on the way out, while contactless and mobile payment systems are rising in demand.
Currently, 43% of agencies are planning on deploying contactless systems within the next five years. European companies currently lead in mobile ticketing adoption, with 86% using app-based solutions compared to 58% globally.
More than half of respondents said they would prioritize single ticketing interfaces that can read multiple ticket types and provide data. This is in addition to being user-friendly.
The final priority highlighted was the trend of moving away from proprietary systems for ticketing. With 40% of respondents stating that open architecture solutions are a high priority, indicating the need for solutions to evolve as the industry’s needs change.
Proprietary tech remains a significant hurdle for companies, especially in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific.
While only five priorities were highlighted, there are some other interesting data points in the report.
According to the survey, 24% of respondents stated that the biggest obstacle to upgrading ticketing hardware is the lack of funding. The second largest obstacle is the use of proprietary technology or legacy fare systems.
Most agencies reported that they have fare collection hardware onboard vehicles at 85%, while approximately half also deploy hardware at stations and interchanges.
Mass transit fare collection and ticketing processes are undergoing a passenger-centric revolution driven by technology. Agencies will need to select the right partner and hardware solutions that can evolve alongside industry demands.
You can find the full report here.
METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.
Read More →
BART began offering select parking lots to non-BART riders to generate new revenue to help address its FY27 $376M operating budget deficit brought on by remote work.
Read More →
Agencies across the U.S. honored transit workers on March 18, recognizing the essential roles they play in keeping communities moving daily.
Read More →
Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.
Read More →
The renewals include continued operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida; the PRTC in Virginia; and RTC Washoe in Nevada.
Read More →
The new system introduces tap-to-pay, touchscreen kiosks, and updated Breeze cards, with both old and new systems running through May.
Read More →
The governor’s proposed auto insurance reforms could save the agency $48 million annually by limiting payouts in crashes where buses are not primarily at fault.
Read More →
What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.
Read More →
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
Read More →
Amanda Wanke, who has worked at DART for 10 years, including the past 2½ years as CEO, will join Metro Transit as deputy chief operating officer, operations administration.
Read More →
