Stockholm’s public transit authority, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) has successfully transformed the daily travel experience for hundreds of thousands of passengers in the capital through a comprehensive digital ticketing modernisation programme with the help of technology from HID. This initiative has eliminated paper tickets and enabled seamless contactless payments across buses, ferries, trams and metro stations.
The technology upgrade has delivered measurable benefits, including dramatically reduced fare evasion that translates to millions of Swedish Kronos in recovered revenue for the business.
With the new integrated ticketing devices from HID, citizens can now use the same payment method – whether a mobile app, contactless card or digital wallet – across all 2,600 buses, 140 ferry validators, 320 tram platforms and 1,035 metro fare gates throughout the capital region.
Most importantly, the new ticketing infrastructure was specifically selected because it withstands harsh Nordic winters, a crucial factor for passengers who depend on public transit year-round.
“Serving hundreds of thousands of passengers daily across multiple transit modes required a ticketing solution that could scale with our needs while providing a consistent experience for our riders. We chose HID for its multi-technology ticket validators for buses, ferries and gates, as well as its ability to run side-by-side with our legacy hardware, systems and networks. It was a real challenge for everyone involved to get this working, but it was one we overcame together,” said Karin Harrius, Business System Administrator, Ticket Readers at SL.
The implementation was designed to ensure a consistent validation experience and deliver a seamless ecosystem across all transit touchpoints. It included a variety of devices including ticket validators, barcode technology, contactless payment functionality, ticket modules within fare gates all combined to enhance customer convenience, offer reliable services in extreme weather, and to streamline operations.
The modernisation has delivered substantial financial benefits for SL. According to HID, fare evasion dropped from 3.1% in 2019 to just 2.3% in 2023 – a 26% reduction that has recovered millions of Swedish Kronor annually for reinvestment in public transit infrastructure and services.
The impact was particularly dramatic on ferry services, where ticket validation rates increased from just 58% in November 2021 to 89% by March 2025. This improvement ensures that all users contribute fairly to maintaining these essential transportation links connecting Stockholm’s islands and waterways.
The comprehensive digital transformation addresses the evolving expectations of Swedes in an increasingly mobile-first society. Citizens particularly benefit from the system’s ability to prevent ticket duplication and unauthorized sharing through social media platforms – issues that had previously undermined fare revenue and service sustainability.
With Stockholm County – which represents 20% of Sweden’s population despite covering only 2% of the country’s area – the scalable, open-architecture system ensures SL can adapt to evolving technologies and passenger expectations.
The system’s flexibility also allows for future integration of new technologies and travel services without requiring complete infrastructure replacement, protecting the public investment while maintaining service innovation.
