On track with France's ticketless tomorrow

Imagine a future where you can hop on a train, tram or bus – across different cities and regions – without having to juggle multiple tickets, subscriptions or convoluted apps. Just seamless travel, wherever you are. This is becoming a reality in France with the Titre Unique pilot project which includes plans for a mobile app – a cutting-edge digital mobility initiative that hopes to transform the public transport experience for the better.

At its core, the project allows people to navigate the country’s transportation network. The system automatically tracks journeys and processes payments after the trip, eliminating the need for customers to worry about which tickets to buy. Gone are the days of sorting through different apps, deciphering fare structures, or waiting in long ticket queues. The Titre Unique pilot project will meet the needs of modern customers – and it’s just the beginning.

As well as the mobile application, the solution includes a National Interoperability Platform (PNI). Developed by Worldline and its partners, it allows transport authorities and operators, as well as third party players, to sell all public transport tickets for the whole of France by integrating with one central platform. The PNI also provides a national post-payment service, streamlining the entire process.

Making multi-modal mobility click

The beauty of the project lies in its simplicity. It consolidates all travel needs into one platform. Whether customers are taking a tram in Tours, the regional express train in Normandy or a bus in Orléans. The project covers it all. The GPS-powered system automatically tracks journeys, from start to finish, ensuring travellers are charged only for the actual travel distance.

For customers, this is a game-changer. There's no need to worry about ticket validation or wonder if you've purchased the best fare. The platform does all the heavy lifting. Just swipe in and swipe out.

A smarter way

The Titre Unique pilot project is not just simple. It removes the friction of ticket purchases, making public transport more accessible to all. This is particularly important in a country like France, where reducing emissions and increasing the use of public transport are key goals.

For customers, what has traditionally been a complex, sometimes frustrating process, the project will help to deliver a hassle-free experience. It eliminates the need to plan ahead or manage various apps. This user-friendly approach encourages people to embrace public transport. For tourists specifically, the app takes the guesswork out of travel. With a single solution for multiple regions and modes of transport, visitors can explore France’s cities and beyond without the stress of figuring out local ticketing systems.

The European Green Deal means France, and neighbouring countries, are tackling the challenge of sustainability. A vital step is making public transport easier. The project does just that by making the switch from cars to trains or buses an easy and obvious choice. But the benefits don’t stop there, it’s a win for other stakeholders too.

Navigating a changing landscape

France’s transport sector is undergoing a major transformation. As the rail market opens to competition and the broader mobility landscape liberalises, users are set to benefit from more diverse and competitive options. But with these opportunities come challenges like service fragmentation, varying systems and added complexity for end users.

Against this backdrop, the French state plays a vital role as regulator, working closely with local mobility authorities to shape a clear, unified framework. The goal is to develop technical solutions that prevent a disjointed experience and instead foster cohesion.

The Titre Unique pilot project is a key initiative in this effort. It addresses the twin challenges of complexity and ecological urgency by simplifying access to shared transportation and tools (like m-ticket or the apportionment platform). More than just a digital tool, it lays the foundation for a national public mobility service – one that enhances the user experience, maximises public investment and improves coordination among all stakeholders.

Strengthening the system

Beyond the benefits for customers, the project represents a significant step forward for French transport authorities. The platform, powered by Worldline, will integrate the different fare products across different authorities, creating a unified central source which every system can use to sell tickets. By centralising and digitising ticketing and payments, this will ensure people can navigate across regions and different modes of transport.

The transport sector will benefit greatly from improved compliance. The French law requires authorities selling tickets to also make them available for third-party sales. Following that approach, some will use Titre Unique, while others will use its integration capabilities to sell the tickets on their own MaaS platforms.

The system provides valuable data on travel patterns, allowing authorities to optimise routes, reduce and improve services. These insights can lead to better informed decisions about where to expand or when to increase frequency during peak times. This type of data leads to smarter, more efficient public transport systems – less congestion, better services and more satisfied customers.

Connecting the data dots

The Titre Unique pilot project offers more than just a digital ticketing solution. It empowers authorities and providers with new tools for modernising and expanding operations. The interoperability of the system makes it easier for authorities to manage transportation networks across different regions and integrate services from multiple providers.

The PNI is a critical piece of this puzzle. Instead of connecting to each ticketing system and having bilateral cross-selling agreements, there’s one central connection. This allows transport operators to make their tickets available for others to sell as well as letting them sell tickets for other authorities. Supported by a regulatory framework, commercial guidance, technical and contractual standards the PNI helps the ecosystem interconnect for a smoother experience.

The PNI also ensures that data flows smoothly, helping authorities track real-time usage and optimise service delivery. For transport service providers, the platform opens up new sales channels, increasing ridership and making services more accessible to a national audience.

As France embraces digital transformation, investing in the modernisation of public transport and mobility, the Titre Unique pilot project plays a key role. By reducing the administrative complexity of transport systems, it helps create a more agile, efficient and user-friendly experience, aligning with the nation's goals for a smarter, more responsive mobility network.

Full steam to green

The environmental impact of the project aims to be significant. In regions where cars, especially with just one passenger, are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing this reliance is crucial. By encouraging more people to use other forms of mobility – trains, e-scooters, bikes and even car-sharing – the platform will help take motorists off the road. As France works towards its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, The Titre Unique pilot project is part of the solution. It’s not just a convenience – it’s a step forward in creating a more sustainable future for the country.

This is just the start

The future of the project is as flexible and dynamic as the transport landscape it’s shaping. Starting with pilot programs in regions like Normandy and Centre-Val de Loire, the system will expand over the next few years, joining up more regions, transport services and modes of mobility.

The platform’s open architecture allows for easy integration of new services, such as bike-sharing programs and ride-hailing services. The possibilities are endless and as the project grows, it will continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of customers and transport authorities.

Driving the shift

At the heart of the pilot project is Worldline. With our expertise in payment services and digital mobility, we’re playing a pivotal role in this transformative initiative. Over the next four years, we’ll collaborate  with our project partners in an experiment to develop the right solution. As pilot programs begin, our goal is to refine the system ahead of a nationwide rollout.

But our involvement doesn’t stop at providing technology. We’re creating a seamless, scalable and secure platform that benefits all stakeholders. From payment processing to system security, we’re responsible for the core infrastructure, ensuring transport authorities and service providers can integrate smoothly with the platform, making the experience truly national.

Beyond the platform itself, we’re also driving progress in standardisation – a key move towards nationwide interoperability. The Titre Unique pilot project is more than a product. It’s a catalyst for collaboration. As active contributors to industry working groups, we’re helping shape the standards that will define the future of multimodal mobility.

Now boarding: the future

The project represents a paradigm shift in how we think about public transport. With its seamless integration of transport modes, automatic journey tracking and post-payment systems, it makes traveling in France simpler and greener than ever before.

As the platform expands and evolves, it has the potential to become the gold standard for mobility not just in France but across the globe. We know the future of our industry must be digital, seamless and user-centric. With Titre Unique and Worldline at the heart, that has already begun.