OV-chipkaart
Currency | Euro (€4, €10 or €20 depending on travel mode minimum load, €150 maximum load) |
---|---|
Stored-value | Travel on credit ('reizen op saldo') or travel product ('reisproduct') |
Auto recharge | Automatic reload ('automatisch opladen') |
Validity | |
Retailed |
|
Website | OV-chipkaart.nl |
The OV-chipkaart (short for openbaar vervoer chipkaart, meaning public transport
The OV-chipkaart is available in disposable form (for occasional passengers, such as tourists) and reusable versions (for frequent travellers, either in anonymous or personalised forms).
History and coverage
The OV-chipkaart is a collaborative initiative of five large public transport operators in the Netherlands: the main rail operator
The OV-chipkaart system was first implemented in the
Within the national rail system, the principal rail operator
Since July 2014, the OV-chipkaart has become the only ticketing system in all public transport in the Netherlands, although the system has not been adopted on most of the Frisian Islands and in the Caribbean Netherlands. There also other areas that aren't covered, such as city buses in the town of Meppel[4] or TwentsFlex (flexible bus system covering many small villages in the Twente region).[5]
Travelling with the OV-chipkaart
The OV-chipkaart works in two ways: either as a stored-value card which is used to travel on pre-loaded credit (Dutch: reizen op saldo); or as a means of storing so-called "travel products" (Dutch: reisproducten) such as single or return rail tickets, day passes, seasonal tickets and discount plans.
Checking in and out
This section's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. The reason given is: It is now possible to get a refund on missed check-outs. (July 2023) |
Passengers must "check in" at the beginning of their journey and "check out" at the end of the journey by scanning the card at an OV-chipkaart card reader. Card readers are placed at station entrances (metro and train) and on board vehicles (bus, tram, and light rail).[6] A successful check-in is usually signaled with a green light and a short beep, while check-out also gives a green light and usually two short beeps.
When changing between most forms of transport (e.g. from bus to bus, bus to tram, bus to train), the user must check out when leaving the first vehicle and check in when entering the second vehicle. When transferring between trains from the same operator (e.g. from NS train to NS train), checking out and in is not necessary.[7] But this is exceptional: for example, failing to check out and then in again when changing between trams will charge the user the whole deposit (currently €4) rather than the actual fare for their journey (further explained below).
When travelling on credit, a deposit is deducted from the card's credit balance upon checking in. The amount of the deposit is generally €4 for bus, tram and metro journeys. For train journeys, the minimum deposit is €20, although with some discount plans loaded on the card, the deposit is only €10. Upon checking out, the deposit is automatically refunded to the card with the price of the journey deducted. The journey price consists of a basic fare and a fare-per-kilometer. The basic fare is only calculated once per journey, which means that only the per-kilometer fare is calculated after transferring to another vehicle (provided that no more than 35 minutes have passed between checking out and in). Journey fares vary regionally and are determined periodically by regional transport boards.
The deposit is possible to be refunded if the user fails to check out at the end of the journey.
As this normally means that the user pays more than the quoted fare for a journey, the deposit system aims to determine misuse of the system. In the event of a machine failure (e.g. if all card validators are out of service), or if the user can prove the real journey, such as checking into a local bus after leaving the train, the excess fee paid can be claimed back from the transport operator.
The OV-chipkaart is not accepted for international travel; an international ticket must be purchased instead. For connecting local trips the card should still be used and must in this case be checked out when ending this trip. A few German stations have Dutch card readers that accept the OV-chipkaart.
Use on trains and metro trains
Larger metro stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam as well as over 80 railway stations in the Netherlands are only accessible by passing through a
Smaller railway and metro stations are often not equipped with ticket barriers. Instead, free-standing validator units (card readers) are used for checking in and out. While ticket barriers are either programmed for checking in or for checking out, depending on whether the turnstile is used for entering or leaving a station, free-standing units can be used for both checking in and out.
During a rail or metro journey, conductors or ticket inspectors use mobile card readers to verify whether passengers have properly checked in with their OV-chipkaart before boarding.
Use on buses, trams and light rail
All buses, trams and
Forgetting to check out when disembarking a vehicle will cause a passenger to lose their check-in deposit. The screens on card validators and ticket barriers will display the amount deducted from the stored credit and remaining balance when a passenger checks out.
Travel product | Mode of transport | Area or network (operator) | Disposable chipkaart | Anonymous OV-chipkaart | Personal OV-chipkaart |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel on pre-loaded credit (e-purse) | All | All | |||
Single or return journey | Rail | National (NS) and regional (Arriva, Keolis Nederland and others) | |||
Weekend unlimited travel year pass | Rail | National (NS) and regional (Arriva, Keolis Nederland and others) | |||
Off-peak discount plan | Rail | National (NS) and regional (Arriva, Keolis Nederland and others) | |||
One-hour unlimited travel | Metro, tram, lightrail, bus | Amsterdam ( HTM ) |
|||
Three-day unlimited travel | Metro, tram, lightrail, bus | Amsterdam ( HTM ) |
|||
Student unlimited travel weekdays | All | All |
Technology
The first OV-chipkaarts were based on
The MIFARE
Types of cards
The OV-chipkaart is available in three versions: the disposable OV-chipkaart, the anonymous OV-chipkaart, and the personal OV-chipkaart. Disposable cards are for one-time or short-period use (and incur a surcharge compared with normal journey price), the latter two types valid for five years and can be used as a stored-value card, also known as electronic purse or e-purse.
Disposable OV-chipkaart
The disposable version of the OV-chipkaart (Dutch: eenmalige chipkaart or wegwerpkaart) is made of thick paper, suitable for short use. It can only be used for simple travel products (such as single or return journeys on trains or unlimited travel on a city or regional network for a certain period of time). Since it cannot be topped up with credit, it is not usable as a stored-value card. Disposable tickets are intended for passengers who use public transport infrequently. Journey fares are normally higher when travelling on a disposable card rather than on a reusable (anonymous or personal) OV-chipkaart.
Disposable train or metro tickets must be purchased before boarding at a ticket machine or service counter and validated by checking in at a ticket barrier or validator unit (card reader). For train journeys, the traditional paper singles and returns have been replaced by disposable OV-chipkaart tickets as of July 2014.[12] Because of a surcharge of €1 for rail journeys on a disposable card, frequent travellers are encouraged to travel on pre-loaded credit with a reusable anonymous or personal OV-chipkaart. Since July 2014, international rail tickets are also issued in the form of disposable cards when purchased at a Dutch railway station, but without a surcharge. Traditional paper tickets for international travel purchased online or abroad will remain valid.
For bus and tram journeys, disposable tickets are available at ticket machines or on board and must also be validated by checking in and out.
Anonymous OV-chipkaart
The anonymous OV-chipkaart (Dutch: anonieme OV-chipkaart) is a reusable, credit-card-sized card for passengers who travel more frequently. It is sold at public transport ticket machines and service counters for a one-time fee, normally €7.50. Unlike the disposable version, it can be used as a stored-value card: users travel on pre-loaded credit and pay per kilometer. The credit balance (saldo) of the card is "topped up" at vending machines at stations or shops. It can be used on all modes of transport and with all transport operators immediately after loading credit. For travel on pre-loaded credit on NS trains, however, cards purchased at vending machines of other transport operators must first be activated once at an NS ticket machine by adding credit to the balance.[13]
An anonymous OV-chipkaart must have a minimum credit balance of €4 for travel on most buses and all trams and metros and €20 for trains operated by NS in order to be able to "check in" at a ticket barrier or card reader at the beginning of the journey (which the system takes as a deposit during the journey). The appropriate journey price is calculated when checking out at the end of each journey. The card is transferable between persons, although only one person can use an anonymous OV-chipkaart at any one time.
Anonymous cards can also be used to store a limited number of non-personalized travel products, such as one-hour or day passes for specific public transport systems. For example, the Amsterdam public transport operator GVB offers day passes valid for up to seven days which can be loaded on an anonymous card or purchased on a disposable card, but season tickets can be loaded only on a personal OV-chipkaart.[14]
Personal OV-chipkaart
The personal OV-chipkaart (Dutch: persoonlijke OV-chipkaart) is similar to the anonymous version of the OV-chipkaart in the sense that it can be used as a stored-value card to travel on pre-loaded credit. In addition, it can be used to load seasonal passes, discount plans and other travel products of a period longer than a single month or travel products which are only available to specific groups, such as older persons or students. A personal card is non-transferable and is issued with a photograph and date of birth of the user. The card can be cancelled with the credit being blocked in case it is lost or stolen, and it can be set to automatically top up (Dutch: automatisch opladen) when the electronic purse credit drops below a certain level.
Personal OV-chipkaarts are issued by card operator
Issues and criticisms
The implementation of the OV-chipkaart system in all public transport systems in the Netherlands has proven to be a complex and time-consuming project. The process, which started in 2005 and was finally completed in 2014, has been plagued with cost-overruns, delays because of technical difficulties, planning and co-ordination problems, and resistance from consumer groups and politicians because of concerns over the safety and user-friendliness of the system, resulting in waning public support.
Passengers not checking out
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: It is now possible to get a refund on missed check-outs.(July 2023) |
Passengers travelling on pre-loaded credit must always check out at the end of their journey in order for the deposit, which was deducted upon check-in, to be reimbursed to their OV-chipkaart. While checking out is unavoidable at railway or metro stations closed off with ticket barriers, stations with free-standing validator units as well as trams and buses can be exited without checking out. An estimated 2% of occasional passengers and 0.5% of frequent travellers forget to check out.[18] Even though passengers can reclaim their deposit, many are not aware of their failure to check out. In addition, the reimbursement procedure requires submitting a paper or online form with the transport operator concerned[19] which some passenger consider too cumbersome in relation to the amount lost. An investigation commissioned by passenger associations showed that the check-out problem results in an estimated profit of nearly €23 million a year for public transport operators. About half of this amount would go to NS as the principal rail operator. Transport operators have questioned the validity of the numbers, claiming the total amount is not more than a few million euros and that they are willing to reimburse lost deposits. However, an NS spokesperson responded, "the travellers who have forgotten to check out have to announce themselves".[20]
The counter-argument is that passengers, particularly by train, can check in, travel a distance that would be more expensive than the deposit amount, and then not check out, allowing the passenger to save more than if they had checked out at the station of destination. Furthermore, a passenger is able to check in at the departure station, cross the country, not check out and then dishonestly reclaim the money from NS as if she had travelled only one stop.
The check-out problem was one of the reasons the Rotterdam public transport operator RET began an experiment in March 2014 with travelling-on-account, whereby OV-chipkaart users do not need to pre-load credit or maintain a minimum balance for the deposit to be deducted, but instead receive a bill for their journeys at the end of the month.[21]
Privacy concerns
Privacy has been a major subject of debate from the start of the OV-chipkaart implementation process. The OV-chipkaart system allows for collecting travel data and connecting those to personal data of passengers, thereby creating an opportunity for public transport operators and card operator
After an investigation by the Dutch Data Protection Authority in 2007 of the effect of the system in the Amsterdam metro, it concluded that the Amsterdam public transport operator
In a lawsuit brought by a group of students against main rail operator NS in 2012, the district court in Utrecht ruled that NS did not act unlawfully by requiring students to check in and check out when travelling on their government-sponsored public transport pass, which could only by used when loaded on a personal OV-chipkaart. The court concluded that the rail operator had a legitimate reason for mandating the check-in process, because it was a reasonable way of ensuring that passengers have a valid title for their journey.[24]
In 2012, the Dutch Data Protection Authority found that rail operator NS violated privacy legislation by using personal data for marketing purposes. Passengers wanting to use their anonymous OV-chipkaart to travel on NS trains were required to activate their card via the NS website. During the activation process, an e-mail address had to be provided which was subsequently used for marketing purposes. The Data Protection Authority stated that passengers travelling on an anonymous card may reasonably expect their anonymity to be respected. In response, NS decided to adjust the activation process in accordance with the ruling. Entering an e-mail address is now no longer required when activating an anonymous card for NS travel.[25]
Security
Independent technological reviews and several hacking attempts continue to draw attention to the security and safety of the OV-chipkaart system. In 2007, students at the
When the Royal Holloway review was presented to the
Later in 2011, it appeared that
Awards
In April 2007, the OV-chipkaart received a Computerworld Honors Program Laureate award.
See also
- List of smart cards
- Oyster card - a similar scheme in London, United Kingdom
- OVpay - using contactless payments on all public transport in The Netherlands
References
- ^ The OV-Chipcard cannot be used on the Wadden islands (see arriva.nl Archived 2014-10-22 at the Wayback Machine and texelhopper.nl) and the BES-islands.
- ^ "Strippenkaart disappears from all buses, trams and metros". DutchNews.nl. 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Paper train tickets vanish". DutchNews.nl. 2014-07-09.
- ^ "Lijn Blauw Meppel, Station - Haveltermade - OV in Nederland Wiki". wiki.ovinnederland.nl. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ "TwentsFlex - OV in Nederland Wiki". wiki.ovinnederland.nl. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ "Checking in and out". OV-chipkaart. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ^ "Transfers". OV-chipkaart. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ^ "Opening the gates on an international journey". NS International. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ^ "24C3: Mifare". events.ccc.de.
- ^ "Nieuwe OV-chip gaat fraude tegen (New OV-chipkaart to prevent fraud)" (in Dutch). WebWereld.nl. 2011-10-06.
- ^ "Trans Link: veiliger OV-chip niet meer van NXP" (in Dutch). WebWereld.nl. 2012-02-09.
- ^ "Paper train tickets set to vanish in July". DutchNews.nl. 2014-05-24.
- ^ "Preparing your OV-chipkaart for use". Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ^ "What card is best for you?". GVB. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ^ "Apply". OV-chipkaart. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ^ "OV-Chipkaart roll-out creeps forward". Railway Gazette. 2009-01-16.
- ^ "OV-chipkaart appreciated". OV-chipkaart.nl. 2013-03-28.
- ^ "Students champion at forgetting to check out of trains". DutchNews.nl. 2011-06-05.
- ^ "Forgot to check out". OV-chipkaart.nl. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ "OV travellers lose €23m by not checking out". NL Times. 2014-06-19.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Rotterdam experiments with travel account". NL Times. 2014-03-03.
- ^ "Privacy". OV-chipkaart.nl. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ^ "Annual Report 2007 (summary in English)" (PDF). Dutch Data Protection Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ^ "Geen privacybezwaren tegen verplicht inchecken OV-chipkaart ("No privacy objections against mandatory check-in with OV-chipkaart")" (in Dutch). Dirkzwager Intellectuele Eigendom & IT. 2012-04-11.
- ^ "Na optreden CBP wijzigt NS gebruik reisgegevens OV-chipkaart ("After CBP ruling, NS changes travel data usage")" (in Dutch). Dutch Data Protection Authority (CBP). 2012-08-28. Archived from the original on 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
- ^ "Security Evaluation of the disposable OV-chipkaart" (PDF). System and Network Engineering, University of Amsterdam. 2007-07-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2011.
- ^ "Mifare: Little Security, Despite Obscurity". 24th Chaos Communication Congress. 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ "Counter Expertise Review of the TNO Security Analysis of the Dutch OV-Chipkaart" (PDF). Royal Holloway, University of London, Information Security Group - Smart Card Centre. 2008.
- ^ "Kamer wil doorgaan met OV-chipkaart (House wants to proceed with OV-chipkaart)" (in Dutch). Nu.nl. 2008-05-07.
- ^ "Public transport smart card fraud under investigation". DutchNews.nl. 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Public transport smart card is safe enough, says minister". DutchNews.nl. 2011-02-26.
- ^ "Nieuwe OV-chipkaart is bestand tegen fraude (New OV-chipkaart is fraud resistant)" (in Dutch). Nu.nl. 2011-10-06.
- ^ "TLS: bijna geen fraude meer met ov-chipkaart (TLS: Almost No OV-Chipkaart Fraud Anymore)" (in Dutch). Tweakers.net. 2013-06-28.
External links
- OV-chipkaart, official website
- Trans Link Systems, operator website