Press release 31.8.2020
Matkahuolto’s new Routes and Tickets application aims for travel chains to cover all of Finland’s public transit. In addition to Matkahuolto’s long-distance transit, the application currently includes all of HSL’s services as well as local transit in Hämeenlinna and Savonlinna.
Matkahuolto is developing the world’s first nationwide travel chain solution. The new Routes and Tickets application guides the user from address to address and connects local transit schedules to national transit schedules. You can also buy tickets for the whole trip from the app. In the future, the intention is to connect all different Finnish public transit operators in one application.
Currently, the Routes and Tickets application includes Matkahuolto timetables, single-trip tickets for adults and popular online special tickets, as well as timetables and tickets for the Hämeenlinna and Savonlinna urban areas and transit. In addition, the app contains schedules and tickets for HSL, which covers the Helsinki metropolitan area.
“We’re adding operators to the app one by one. Our goal is that, in the future, the service will cover the entire country’s public transit and operators, so that it would be easy to move without your own car, ”says Leila Lehtinen, Director of Matkahuolto’s Passenger and Carrier Services.
For HSL, the application provides an additional channel for both ticket sales and passenger services on routes. The app directs you to purchase the right HSL ticket directly based on the route the user is looking for, making it easy to get a ticket even for passengers visiting the metropolitan area who are not already familiar with the area’s public transit and zones.
“The whole idea of opening up HSL’s ticketing interface has been that customers can easily be offered travel chains all the way to their destination. In this app, this is possible and there is a lot of potential,” says Mari Flink, HSL’s Head of Customer and Sales.
Travel chains bring demand responsive transport (DRT) to sparsely populated areas
Matkahuolto wants to revitalize Finland’s public transit network to include sparsely populated areas. With the help of the Routes and Tickets application demand responsive services, such as taxis and ridesharing, are brought to the sparsely populated areas of Lapland, so that residents can seamlessly become part of travel chains.
First, Matkahuolto will launch a DRT-service to the Kuusamo region, where it will start as soon as September.
“Finland is a long-distance country with small passenger numbers. The reduction in public transit, especially in sparsely populated rural areas, has increased private car use and traffic emissions. To make public transit as attractive as possible, its use must be made effortless. I believe that the launch and development of our new application is a step in the right direction to revitalize public transport, ”says Leila Lehtinen.
The app can be downloaded with Android and iOS phones from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
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Matkahuolto is a consortium of Finnish bus operators with a majority market share of Finnish intercity bus travel.
HSL or Helsingin seudun liikenne is the public transit authority for the Helsinki region.