Denmark Rejsekort smartcard replaced by Rejsekort smartphone app

Similarly to the Netherlands, Denmark introduced a nationwide smartcard system called "Rejsekort" but they have now replaced it with the Rejsekort smartphone app. This works in a similar way to the Swiss Easyride system, where you check in with your phone at the start of the journey and check out at the end. Your journey is tracked by GPS, the system works out the best fare and your linked bank card is charged.

However, they have also introduced a new smartcard, called "Basiskort", which is an option for those who don't want to use a mobile app. Fares are the same as on the Rejsekort app.

I don't get this strategy. I get that the smartcard technology needed to be replaced, but now they have the cost of maintaining both the app and smartcard. Why didn't they just replace everybody's cards with new generation technology? That's what the Dutch are doing. They are replacing the OV-Chipkaart with the OV-Pas card.

For those that can use it and want to, the EasyRide-style check in-check out works well (plus visitors to Denmark can use it too, without the faff of getting a physical card). Why shouldn't the two co-exist?

Mike395 said:

For those that can use it and want to, the EasyRide-style check in-check out works well (plus visitors to Denmark can use it too, without the faff of getting a physical card). Why shouldn't the two co-exist?

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I don't doubt it is a great system. I suppose I'm trying to get my head around the fact that the publicity says that the card has been replaced by an app. Whereas what has actually happened, as far as I can tell, is that they have simply replaced the card with new technology, just like the Netherlands, plus introduced a smartphone app on the side.

I don’t see a problem with having both an app and a smartcard. If I were living in Denmark, I could see myself using the card for my commutes and maybe the app for non-standard trips. I might as well also “check in” if I was searching up routes I wouldn’t take normally anyway.

I prefer using cards, but I remember losing my OV-chipkaart once and being grateful that there other ways of checking in/out (without clumsily buying a ticket for every ride). Ideally, my “backup” OV-chipkaart (well now OV-pass) would be on the app though.

Amalie said:

I don’t see a problem with having both an app and a smartcard. If I were living in Denmark, I could see myself using the card for my commutes and maybe the app for non-standard trips. I might as well also “check in” if I was searching up routes I wouldn’t take normally anyway.

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The confusing thing in Denmark is that it seems they are heavily promoting the app as the "default" option, implying that they expect you to use that for commutes, when in reality you can use a card just like before if you want. In Switzerland, EasyRide seems to be more of a secondary option.

I'm glad they're keeping a smart card option as well. I certainly wouldn't want to have to rely on the vagaries of technology to evidence my fare.

It's supposed to save cost on physical infrastructure, as the number of new points for check-in and check-out are very limited and you also use the same point to do both in the new system. With the old system a city bus with four doors with "free flow" through all doors had to have 8 points installed, while now every bus only has one. On the stations the number of points have also been heavily reduced and the general ability to check in and out with credit cards have been disabled on the points to encourage more people to use the apps and to avoid buying more physical equipment.

The process has been heavily criticized in Denmark and the initial discount for using these systems instead of paper tickets have almost vanished as price increases for years have only applied to the "Rejsekort" fares.

Also remember that the Rejsekort project was never intended to be a benefit for travelers. It was designed to make revenue sharing between the individual transport authorities easier, because in Denmark the same fares are used across all public transport excluding promotional offers such as the non-flex DSB Orange ticket.

What are the fares like for journeys involving a break of journey? If travelling from City A to City B, stopping over in city C on the return, will you be charged 3 singles rather than a potentially much cheaper return?
These GPS-tracked ticketing systems work great for straightforward journeys, but the moment you start adding any complexity, quite often it starts costing a lot more than a return with BoJ validity would.

andersj said:

It's supposed to save cost on physical infrastructure, as the number of new points for check-in and check-out are very limited and you also use the same point to do both in the new system. With the old system a city bus with four doors with "free flow" through all doors had to have 8 points installed, while now every bus only has one. On the stations the number of points have also been heavily reduced and the general ability to check in and out with credit cards have been disabled on the points to encourage more people to use the apps and to avoid buying more physical equipment.

The process has been heavily criticized in Denmark and the initial discount for using these systems instead of paper tickets have almost vanished as price increases for years have only applied to the "Rejsekort" fares.

Also remember that the Rejsekort project was never intended to be a benefit for travelers. It was designed to make revenue sharing between the individual transport authorities easier, because in Denmark the same fares are used across all public transport excluding promotional offers such as the non-flex DSB Orange ticket.

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This makes more sense now. Where is the single check point on a city bus located now? Does this mean that passengers continuing to use smartcards are restricted by what door they enter and leave the bus?

Farigiraf said:

What are the fares like for journeys involving a break of journey? If travelling from City A to City B, stopping over in city C on the return, will you be charged 3 singles rather than a potentially much cheaper return?
These GPS-tracked ticketing systems work great for straightforward journeys, but the moment you start adding any complexity, quite often it starts costing a lot more than a return with BoJ validity would.

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It depends on a number of variables. Within one region the price is determined by the distance in zones and time between check in and check out. You can take a detour either voluntarily or not without getting charged extra because the distance is measured "as the crow flies" in a direct line. The time aspect varies from region to region, but for my region it's a 60 minutes cap for 2 zones. If your journey within 2 zones are longer than that you will be charged for 3 zones. 3 zones is then 75 minutes and an additional 10 minutes for each extra zone.
For rail travel this means that you can make a quick return very cheaply, because if you check out in the same zone within 60 minutes you will only get charged for.2 zones even though you traveled to a station 5 zones away and then returned immediately.

For journeys crossing two or more regions there is a general time cap on 8 hours for the journey, otherwise time dosen't play a role here. If you make a return trip here from A-B-A you will be charged for to single trips. There is still a detour rule called the "triangular rule" which states that you can make a detour from A to B via C if the distance between A-C and B-C together each are less than double the amount of zones on the direct route from A-B.
That means you can make som pretty big detours or round trips for cheap, but it's so complicated that you always need to consult the Journeyplanner to make sure the triangle rule applies, otherwise you will get charged for multiple single trips.
An example on the Aalborg-Skørping-Arden-Hobro-Randers-Aarhus rail line:
On Aalborg-Aarhus-Skørping the rule will not be applied and you will be charged 372 DKK for two single trips (Aalborg-Aarhus and Aarhus-Skørping).
On Aalborg-Aarhus-Arden the rules does apply and you will only be charged 80 DKK for one single trip Aalborg-Arden with an included detour via. Aarhus.

People are mostly confused about the discounts given when you begin your journey off-peak (11 AM-1 PM, 6 PM-6 AM and on the weekends) or the loyalty discounts you get on journeys in the western regions based on your number of journeys within a month. The month with the most journeys within the last 3 months counts towards your status. Example: If you have had 3+ journeys in November, you will get discount on journeys in December, January and February.

andersj said:

On Aalborg-Aarhus-Skørping the rule will not be applied and you will be charged 372 DKK for two single trips (Aalborg-Aarhus and Aarhus-Skørping).
On Aalborg-Aarhus-Arden the rules does apply and you will only be charged 80 DKK for one single trip Aalborg-Arden with an included detour via. Aarhus.

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These are the exact kinds of anomalies that don't get addressed by a system that attempts to simplify anything without much nuance. A blanket 50% indirect journey allowance is simple in theory, until you start making trips that get within a few percent of that 50%, and then it starts getting really complicated. The alternative (UK system) is equally, if not more, complicated to be fair.

I'm aware trains in Denmark are fairly expensive, but ~£42 for a 1h 15 return journey is really high even by Danish standards, while ~£9 is really low. For comparison, how much is an Aalborg-Aarhus rejsekort return typically?

To (mis)use these "features" you need to know about them. The rule is obviously not intended for these cases, but does apply.

For Aalborg-Aarhus the normal full-flex single price is 212 DKK regardless of payment method and the non-flex Orange ticket starts at 55 DKK and gets more expensive on popular trains and currently the Orange tickets gets more and more expensive each day from around a week in advance regardless of the popularity of the train.

For spontaneous trips between the two cities FlixBus or the "Kombardo Expressen" (owned by the "Mols Linjen" ferry company) is usually better value for 49-69 DKK even 1-2 days before departure. They however don't offer departures every 30 minutes as DSB does.

I have found instructions on where to find the check points for the Basiskort smartcard

Movia buses:
On Movia buses, you will usually find a Check point for Basiskort by the two front doors. This also applies to the long articulated buses such as 5C and 2A.
On a few buses, the number and placement may be different, for example on buses that are smaller than standard buses.


Lokaltog:
At Lokaltog stations, the Check point for Basiskort is mounted on one of the existing blue Rejsekort pillars, typically the most frequently used Rejsekort pillar at the station. This may vary from station to station.


Sydtrafik:
On Sydtrafik buses, you will find the yellow Check points both at the front door and the middle door.
If you are travelling with Sydtrafik’s local trains, you will find the yellow Check points on each platform, where the blue pillars are located today.


Midttrafik:
On all Midttrafik buses, you will find Check points at the front door and the middle door.
– Please note that Aarhus city buses only have Check points at the middle door. Later in the summer of 2026, a Check point will also be installed at the rear door.


Aarhus Light Rail:
Check points are available at all stations.


Lemvigbanen:
Check points are available at all stations.


Nordjyllands Trafikselskab (NT):
On all NT buses, you will find a Check point at the middle doors. During the summer of 2026, Check points will also be installed at the front doors of the buses.
– On the Plus Line in Aalborg, you must find the Check point on the platform where the blue points are located today.


Nordjyske Jernbaner:
The Check point is located where you find the blue points today.


Fynbus:
You will find the yellow Check points on the buses by the middle doors or rear doors. Later in 2026, they will also be available by the front door.

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Clearly they are trying to make the smartcard less attractive to use so that most people use the smartphone app.

johncrossley said:

Clearly they are trying to make the smartcard less attractive to use so that most people use the smartphone app.

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I think this is it. Skånetrafiken did exactly the same thing in southern Sweden a few years ago. Replaced the travel card system with an new app-based system with the possibility to still use a new kind of card.

Those of us wanting to still use a card instead of an app quickly discovered that the card was almost impossible to use in real life. I suppose they are just waiting for the right moment to say that the card will be discontinued due to lack of use.

I wonder if the Rejsekort app accepts non-Danish bank accounts and cards, and doesn't whack you for an out of currency charge as many Danish establishments do.

riceuten said:

I wonder if the Rejsekort app accepts non-Danish bank accounts and cards

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It does.

I have an upcoming trip where I will just need to go from the Copenhagen Airport to the Hovedbanegard, can one still get paper tickets to avoid having to faff around with apps for just one trip?

Yes, just buy a paper ticket at the vending machines in the airport. Paper ticket price 30 DKK, Rejsekort app price 28 DKK = not worth the hassle.

For the metro (not relevant for CPH-Central Station, as you use the train here) the price difference is only 0,25 DKK because you get charged a 1,75 DKK metro surcharge on the Rejsekort, but not on paper tickets.

johncrossley said:

I have found instructions on where to find the check points for the Basiskort smartcard

Basiskort

Med Basiskort kan du rejse med kollektiv transport i hele Danmark med et fysisk kort. Læs om personligt og anonymt Basiskort, Pendler Kombi, Basiskort til erhverv, Ungdomskort og hvordan du rejser med Basiskort.

www.rejsekort.dk

Clearly they are trying to make the smartcard less attractive to use so that most people use the smartphone app.

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Not sure how this particular point makes it less attractive? Obviously they are expecting many people to use the app so may remove some existing card readers, but everything in that link sounds reasonable.

FormerBritInMe said:

I have an upcoming trip where I will just need to go from the Copenhagen Airport to the Hovedbanegard, can one still get paper tickets to avoid having to faff around with apps for just one trip?

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On the last day of my trip, my citypass from the Rejsebillet app had expired. Since I was only doing one trip (metro from Fisketorvet to the Airport with a change at Kongens Nytorv), I used the Rejsekort virtual tap in/out thing. It charged me 23.80DKK which is £2.77.

zero said:

Not sure how this particular point makes it less attractive? Obviously they are expecting many people to use the app so may remove some existing card readers, but everything in that link sounds reasonable.

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It sounds like smartcard users now have to use specific doors whereas they previously could use any door.