ZVB to dismantle ticket machines by the end of the year

20.05.2025 | The ticket machines of Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe AG (ZVB) are reaching the end of their service life. At the same time, their use has been in sharp decline for years. The ZVB therefore trialled the removal of the ticket machines at Baar station to test customer acceptance of purchasing tickets via other channels. After evaluating the test phase, the ZVB has now decided to gradually remove all ticket machines by the end of 2025.

The ZVB ticket machines are over 10 years old and have technical components that will no longer work from 1 January 2026. At the same time, the longer the ticket machines are used, the less they are used. Ticket sales via the ticket machines have fallen by two thirds in the last five years, with only 9 out of 1000 customers still purchasing their tickets in this way. In view of this situation, the ZVB trialled the removal of ticket machines at Baar station to test the acceptance and flexibility of customers buying their tickets via other channels.

The findings from the test phase are now available and have been analysed. Basically, it can be stated: The test worked very well. The ZVB received almost no reactions. Around a third of customers who had purchased their tickets from a ticket machine now bought them from the driver. Two thirds switched to other sales channels. The additional sales on the bus had no impact on punctuality, as there were very few tickets in total: Only 0.01% of all passengers who boarded at Baar station during the test phase bought their ticket on the bus.

Based on the positive test results and in view of the fact that the ticket machines are reaching the end of their service life, the ZVB has decided to gradually dismantle all of its ticket machines by the end of 2025. The dismantling will be accompanied by widespread information and accompanying measures so that customers have enough time to switch to other ticketing solutions. The user-friendly, digital solutions such as the Fairtiq or öV-Plus apps deserve special mention. Anyone who needs help setting up the applications can contact the staff at the ZVB counter in the Zug Travel Centre at any time. A travelcard can also be a good solution; an annual travelcard, for example, is worthwhile from just two days' travel per week. Of course, customers can still buy tickets at the staffed points of sale. And finally, a ticket can be purchased from the bus driver at any bus stop.