20 years of success: ATRON ticketing system as the backbone of public transport in central Sweden

Linköping/Sundsvall, May 2025 - For 20 years now, the Swedish subsidiary of the ATRON Group has been providing a reliable and future-oriented ticketing infrastructure for public transport in central Sweden. The success story began in 2005 with a pioneering assignment: to deliver a modern, card-based ticketing system for an association of five central Swedish regions - from the western suburbs of Stockholm to the Norwegian border.

Today, this transport association, known as BIMS, is the third largest public transport provider in Sweden and operates over 2,500 buses, around 80 trains and various ferry services.

Consistent support for technological change
Between 2012 and 2015, ATRON equipped the participating transport companies with a large number of on-board computers and ticket validators in several stages. Since then, the environment has changed significantly: While cash was still accepted on the bus at the beginning, today only contactless and digital payment is possible.

A future-proof step was the close cooperation with one of the leading providers of passenger apps. As a result, QR code tickets from third-party apps can be reliably validated, evaluated and statistically recorded via ATRON hardware - a key requirement in a country where 87% of all tickets are now purchased via mobile app.

Long-term operation thanks to intelligent upgrades
Thanks to regular, targeted hardware and software retrofits, the ATRON technology in Sweden is still up to date even after more than a decade. The majority of the more than 2,500 vehicle computers and validators originally supplied are still in active use today - proof of the high quality and longevity of the systems.

Future model: ATRON solutions in the rental model
ATRON Sweden is also a pioneer in business models: In Scandinavia, transport companies are the first in Europe to have the option of renting ATRON solutions instead of buying them. This offers maximum flexibility and relief in terms of investment costs - a significant advantage for companies that need financial leeway in ongoing operations.

“The key to our success lies in a strong, motivated team that works closely with our customers and combines technical innovation with long-term thinking,” says Jürgen Goldmann, Managing Director ATRON Systems Sweden AB.

With innovative strength, many years of operational reliability and customer-oriented solutions, ATRON remains a central partner for digital mobility in Scandinavia even after two decades.