There are three obligations to open interface information for mobility services. The obligation to open essential information applies to all providers of passenger transport services. The obligation to open ticket and payment system information applies only to road and rail operators with a ticket and payment system and an obligation to enable acting on someone else’s behalf applies to operators with an electronic ticket and payment system and a user account system.
The obligation to open essential information
The passenger transport service provider shall ensure that relevant and up-to-date information on the mobility service is available in a machine-readable form from 1.1.2018, regardless of the mode of transport.
The essential open information are among others
- name, business ID and contact information
- routes, service areas
- stops
- schedules
- price and payment methods
- availability of the service
- accessibility
Note that the content of the obligation may be different for different services.
Detailed instructions >>> (External link)
Providers of passenger transport services are:
- taxi and bus companies
- rail, air and shipping companies
- other transport operators such as municipalities and competent authorities
- stations, ports and terminals
- transport agencies such as taxi hubs
- commercial parking facilities
- car rental companies and other operators who rent modes of transport and commercial sharing services
The obligation to open ticket and payment systems
Road or rail passenger transport service provider, intermediate service provider or the operator responsible for the ticketing and payment system on their behalf shall provide access to the sales interface of their ticketing and payment system to mobility service providers and interconnection service providers through which (without restrictive conditions):
- The acquisition of at least a basic non-recurring ticket product on which the travel entitlement is based shall be easily verifiable through the use of general-purpose technology.
- Book a single trip or shipment for which the exact price is not known at the start of the service or otherwise agreed to be paid after the end of the service.
Acting on someone else’s behalf
The obligation of acting on someone else’s behalf came into force on 1.1.2019. This obligation applies to all modes of passenger transport, which have customer information in their user accounts and have a ticketing and payment system.
Acting on someone else’s behalf means that the existing account holder (customer) authorizes the mobility or combination service provider to obtain ticket products and other mobility services by utilizing the user’s credentials and user information as well as discounts, reimbursements or a ticket containing special conditions.
Interface Practices
Under the Act on Transport Services, service providers must open the interfaces of essential data, single ticket and acting on somebody else’s behalf. The Act promotes cooperation between service providers and practices related to open interfaces.
Interface practices available at Mobility interfaces webpage
Interface practices and the material on the mobility interfaces website are best practices the purpose of which is, in cooperation with actors in the sector, to share best contractual practices on the opening of interfaces and on agreeing on their use.
These best practices are not legally binding regulations or instructions issued by Traficom, or legally binding interpretations of existing legislation. The interface practices are non-binding recommendations.