Rome, the historic capital of Italy, has recently made headlines as the first European city to introduce open loop transit payments for JCB Cardmembers. This innovative move allows JCB Cardmembers to seamlessly access Rome’s public transportation system without the hassle of purchasing tickets in advance.
The service, known as open loop transit, is now made possible through a strategic partnership between Nexi, a leading Italian PayTech company in Europe, and JCB. This collaboration enables JCB contactless cardholders to conveniently pay for their public transport fares by simply tapping their cards on turnstiles or authorized readers throughout Rome’s transportation network.
With this new payment method, millions of tourists and residents, particularly those from Asian countries, can enjoy the ease and efficiency of traveling on Rome’s buses, trams, trolleybuses, and metro lines without the need for traditional paper tickets. The service covers all surface lines, buses, trams, trolleybuses, as well as the entire metro network including metro A, metro B/B1, metro C, and select urban railway lines.
Not only does this advancement benefit passengers by eliminating the need for pre-purchased tickets, but it also enhances overall urban mobility by offering maximum convenience, secure transactions, fair pricing based on recent travel history, and improved accessibility to public transportation.
Filippo Maria Signoretti, the Merchant Solutions Director Italy at Nexi, expressed pride in the technological capabilities that enable Rome to pioneer this contactless payment service in Europe. He highlighted the significance of digitalizing travel tickets in Rome and the positive impact on millions of potential Asian users.
Ray Shinzawa, the Managing Director of JCB International (Europe) Ltd., emphasized JCB’s commitment to providing reliable solutions for European transit operators. This partnership signifies JCB’s dedication to enhancing the transit experience for cardmembers and business partners across Europe, paving the way for future projects within the transit industry.
This groundbreaking initiative not only marks a significant milestone for Rome but also sets a new standard for contactless payment integration in public transportation systems. As cities around the world continue to embrace digital innovations, Rome’s open loop transit payments for JCB Cardmembers serve as a model for seamless and efficient urban travel experiences.
