Trivia: networks that have scrapped ticket machines

81A · 8 Jun 2026

Inspired by the OV-pas thread suggesting that the Dutch rail network will be scrapping ticket machines, I was wondering if there are any other networks that got rid of/will get rid of ticket machines (so not counting e.g. local buses that always only had driver sales, I mean something like what the Croydon Trams did in 2018).

So far, I have:
Stockholm (Sweden) local network-scrapped ticket machines around 2022 (now the options are App, Contactless and Smartcards or Paper tickets topped up/bought at Newsagents/ticket counters)

SJ (Swedish national railway company)-also scrapped machines around 2022 (now the options are App, Website and Paper tickets sold at Newsagents/other shops)

Croydon Trams (United Kingdom)-scrapped machines in 2018 (now the options are Contactless, Oyster (smartcard bought/topped up at newsagents or tube/rail stations) and Paper day tickets bought at tube/rail stations)

Does anyone know of other networks that have gotten rid of (or are about to get rid of) ticket machines?

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DanielB · 8 Jun 2026

81A said:
Inspired by the OV-pas thread suggesting that the Dutch rail network will be scrapping ticket machines

Then aren't scrapping them yet, they only have significantly reduced the number of ticket machines. There will remain at least one ticket machine per station.

Though haven't read what is happening after OVpay is fully rolled out as the disposable chipcards from the ticket machine use the OV-chipkaart technology and will become obsolete then. Also OVpay doesn't require "picking up" of products anymore, as they are coupled to a card online. But there are reasons why NS would still want to sell tickets, so either they completely switch over to e-tickets or there will be some kind of ticket machine required.
Only the last remaining regional line still having NS ticket machines (Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen) has lost them recently.

johncrossley · 8 Jun 2026

Some British ticket machines now issue e-tickets, although there is always a magnetic strip ticket machine as well as e-tickets can't go everywhere in Britain yet, so there is a precedent for that. However, if they decide to stop accepting cash, then arguably they no longer need to issue tickets at all, as passengers could be required to use bank cards. One problem with this is that child tickets would no longer be available, although you could potentially designate a bank card for child fares in an online account.

The exile · 8 Jun 2026

johncrossley said:
. However, if they decide to stop accepting cash, then arguably they no longer need to issue tickets at all, as passengers could be required to use bank cards. One problem with this is that child tickets would no longer be available, although you could potentially designate a bank card for child fares in an online account.

Plenty of (albeit niche) situations where that would be impractical (think group travel- especially for kids, travel as part of a package- imagine the coach party all being told they’d got to pay using their own bank cards because some were doing the Glebfinban option, others going on to Fort William etc).

81A · 8 Jun 2026

DanielB said:
Then aren't scrapping them yet, they only have significantly reduced the number of ticket machines. There will remain at least one ticket machine per station.

Though haven't read what is happening after OVpay is fully rolled out as the disposable chipcards from the ticket machine use the OV-chipkaart technology and will become obsolete then. Also OVpay doesn't require "picking up" of products anymore, as they are coupled to a card online. But there are reasons why NS would still want to sell tickets, so either they completely switch over to e-tickets or there will be some kind of ticket machine required.
Only the last remaining regional line still having NS ticket machines (Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen) has lost them recently.

Interesting, I wonder if there will be a new design (OV-pas/e-ticket compatible) ticket machine? Because (unless I am wrong) the current ones only do OV-chipkaart which is being withdrawn next year? I suppose the alternative (making NS a candidate for this thread) would be to do what Stockholm did when the Access card was withdrawn (remove the machines and offer contactless, app and a smart card for top up in app/online and in corner shops, with the corner shops selling single use barcode tickets as well)…

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2026 ==

HSL's large ticket machines were removed from service in autumn 2025 when we transitioned to a new backend system and launched the new Ticket Store for topping up HSL cards online. HSL ticket sales at ticket machines located at tram stops and at Helsinki City parking ticket machines ended on 31 December 2025. Currently, around 70 HSL ticket machines remain in operation at major transport hubs

HSL ticket machine page

I just found HSL in Helsinki are in the process of phasing out their machines as well (though, as above, 70 remain for now). It seems ticket machines are rapidly becoming history in the Nordic countries…

Mike395 · 9 Jun 2026

It is worth noting that whilst SJ has phased out ticket machines, you can still buy tickets for at least some SJ services on the TVMs operated by the regional transport authority, at least in Skane.

Mainline421 · 10 Jun 2026

81A said:
Stockholm (Sweden) local network-scrapped ticket machines around 2022 (now the options are App, Contactless and Smartcards or Paper tickets topped up/bought at Newsagents/ticket counters)

Most stations have staffed ticket offices/spärrkiosk (quite a contrast with SJ) so not quite the same since you can very easily purchase tickets/smartcards at the station by cash or card (the role is joint with manning the gateline).

81A said:
I just found HSL in Helsinki are in the process of phasing out their machines as well (though, as above, 70 remain for now). It seems ticket machines are rapidly becoming history in the Nordic countries…

HSL are retaining the smaller machines for the foreseeable future, although the publicity surrounding the removal of the larger machines makes it fairly clear that they would prefer customers to use other sales channels. To my knowledge, Tampere never introduced ticket machines, just contactless on board trams with cash payments in shops, most locals use Nysse cards. Whether tram systems really need extensive pre-boarding ticket sales infrastructure in the first place is debatable.

Also probably not what you're looking for but some eastern European countries have never had ticket machines

81A · 10 Jun 2026

Mainline421 said:
Most stations have staffed ticket offices/spärrkiosk (quite a contrast with SJ) so not quite the same since you can very easily purchase tickets/smartcards at the station by cash or card (the role is joint with manning the gateline).

This (the barrier staff also manning a small ticket counter) seems a very good option for gated networks to keep cash/card in person sales at low cost.

Mainline421 said:
HSL are retaining the smaller machines for the foreseeable future, although the publicity surrounding the removal of the larger machines makes it fairly clear that they would prefer customers to use other sales channels. To my knowledge, Tampere never introduced ticket machines, just contactless on board trams with cash payments in shops, most locals use Nysse cards. Whether tram systems really need extensive pre-boarding ticket sales infrastructure in the first place is debatable.

Also probably not what you're looking for but some eastern European countries have never had ticket machines

Interesting HSL are keeping the remaining ones. Their website definitely makes it sound like they are on their way out but that probably is an attempt to nudge people to other methods.

Thames99 · 10 Jun 2026

What is the situation in Luxembourg? Second class is free so no tickets are needed, but first class still needs to be paid for. And tickets would be need for cross-border journeys. Do these use machines or ticket offices?

johncrossley · 10 Jun 2026

Thames99 said:
What is the situation in Luxembourg? Second class is free so no tickets are needed, but first class still needs to be paid for. And tickets would be need for cross-border journeys. Do these use machines or ticket offices?

They have ticket machines at most if not all stations and there are at least two ticket offices (at Luxembourg main station and Belval-Lycée).

jpl · 1 Sep 2026

Finland's state-owned operator VR Group just announced the closure of all ticket machines. They have silently been removing the machines for about an year now. They will all be gone by the end of November. That technology didn't last long as the newest generation was introduced in 2019.

81A · 1 Sep 2026

jpl said:
Finland's state-owned operator VR Group just announced the closure of all ticket machines. They have silently been removing the machines for about an year now. They will all be gone by the end of November. That technology didn't last long as the newest generation was introduced in 2019.

Well, that makes another one... Usage must have been very low if they are removing fairly new machines (most operators that have scrapped their machines so far have simply not replaced very old machines at end of life, as opposed to actively removing fully up to date and functional machines).

Mainline421 · 2 Sep 2026

81A said:
Well, that makes another one... Usage must have been very low if they are removing fairly new machines (most operators that have scrapped their machines so far have simply not replaced very old machines at end of life, as opposed to actively removing fully up to date and functional machines).

They are claiming end of life, and l certainly used them all the time when I lived there last year https://www.vr.fi/en/news/2026/09/0...lleet-kayttoikansa-paahan-ja-niista-luovutaan

At least they do explicitly reconfirm tickets can still be purchased on board intercity trains after they are removed. It will mean online purchase will be the only reasonable option for journeys from many rural stations on on local trains though, since it appears that, aside from Helsinki, R-Kiosks will be the only way to purchase paper tickets

The exile · 2 Sep 2026

Incidentally - I’ve just noticed the word “trivia” in the title. Woukd argue that thus is anything but trivial as ticket machines are often the best way of getting what you need in a foreign country where you may not have mobile reception. Particularly for English speakers they’re much more likely to be “user friendly” than a local human.

duesselmartin · 2 Sep 2026

The exile said:
Incidentally - I’ve just noticed the word “trivia” in the title. Woukd argue that thus is anything but trivial as ticket machines are often the best way of getting what you need in a foreign country where you may not have mobile reception. Particularly for English speakers they’re much more likely to be “user friendly” than a local human.

not just mobile reception, but saves you downloading apps or understanding websites that are not always userfriendly to the occasional traveler, entering data you might not want to enter.

81A · Thursday at 20:30

Mainline421 said:
They are claiming end of life, and l certainly used them all the time when I lived there last year https://www.vr.fi/en/news/2026/09/0...lleet-kayttoikansa-paahan-ja-niista-luovutaan

At least they do explicitly reconfirm tickets can still be purchased on board intercity trains after they are removed. It will mean online purchase will be the only reasonable option for journeys from many rural stations on on local trains though, since it appears that, aside from Helsinki, R-Kiosks will be the only way to purchase paper tickets

The Finnish version of “end of life” is very different to ours, then! After all, half the National Rail network seems to use 10-20 year old S&B machines (I think running a modified version of windows XP)… Not to mention the DLR’s antiques that continue in service despite recent talk of replacement…

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 20:54 ==

The exile said:
Incidentally - I’ve just noticed the word “trivia” in the title. Woukd argue that thus is anything but trivial as ticket machines are often the best way of getting what you need in a foreign country where you may not have mobile reception. Particularly for English speakers they’re much more likely to be “user friendly” than a local human.

I definitely prefer physical tickets (and ticket machines are my preferred option when abroad), but assumed myself in a very small minority… Also, it seems like many Dutch networks are scrapping their machines (I think there was a recent thread mentioning The Hague?) due to the OV-chip to OV-pas transition. At least I’ve not encountered a network with no paper ticket/physical smart card option yet…

rf_ioliver · Friday at 11:15

To be absolutely honest in Finland, everyone uses the VR app. I don't think I've used a ticket machine in 10 years

kaspertron · Saturday at 12:09

rf_ioliver said:
To be absolutely honest in Finland, everyone uses the VR app. I don't think I've used a ticket machine in 10 years

I think you're missing the point. 2% of journeys are bought from the machines. The question is, who are those 2% and what will they do now? Are they generally older people without smartphones who will stop travelling by train?

If only 2% of train travellers need a disabled toilet, is that a good reason to remove disabled toilets from trains?

rmHawk765 · Saturday at 12:15

Interesting that while all this is happening, Nice in southern France has had large parts of it completely pedestrianised, including new tram lines and bus shelters with ticket machines!

Granted, these no longer dispense paper tickets, rather they are just for purchasing and topping up smartcards.

johncrossley · Saturday at 12:17

kaspertron said:
I think you're missing the point. 2% of journeys are bought from the machines. The question is, who are those 2% and what will they do now? Are they generally older people without smartphones who will stop travelling by train?

If only 2% of train travellers need a disabled toilet, is that a good reason to remove disabled toilets from trains?

It is still possible to buy tickets at the R-kioski, on the website and by phone call, although fees are charged at the R-kioski and for the phone call.

Watershed · Saturday at 13:08

johncrossley said:
It is still possible to buy tickets at the R-kioski, on the website and by phone call, although fees are charged for all those options.

I don't think it's reasonable to charge a fee to use such methods. There should always be some way of buying a physical ticket at the station without a fee.

johncrossley · Saturday at 13:15

Watershed said:
I don't think it's reasonable to charge a fee to use such methods. There should always be some way of buying a physical ticket at the station without a fee.

Alternatively you could call it a discount for buying online. The Dutch have charged a premium for buying a ticket from the machine (this is actually a single use smartcard)/offered a discount for using the OV-Chipkaart for getting on for 20 years.

Watershed · Saturday at 13:37

johncrossley said:
Alternatively you could call it a discount for buying online. The Dutch have charged a premium for buying a ticket from the machine (this is actually a single use smartcard)/offered a discount for using the OV-Chipkaart for getting on for 20 years.

Potayto, potahto. An online discount is the same thing as an in-person surcharge. I think charging extra for single use tickets vs reusable/rechargeable tickets is just about ok, as long as you can buy the rechargeable ticket at any station without needing to provide ID etc. - which is the case at all Underground stations for example, but not at National Rail stations in London.

NCT · Saturday at 14:07

There is an apparent discrimination against non smartphone methods and I'm deeply uneasy about it.

johncrossley · Saturday at 14:24

Watershed said:
Potayto, potahto. An online discount is the same thing as an in-person surcharge. I think charging extra for single use tickets vs reusable/rechargeable tickets is just about ok, as long as you can buy the rechargeable ticket at any station without needing to provide ID etc. - which is the case at all Underground stations for example, but not at National Rail stations in London.

You could argue offers such as discounts for Uber gift cards and the cashback in Uber credits for buying train tickets on the app mean that people buying tickets directly from the machine are being surcharged. This is not a new thing with Uber. Several UK TOCs have offered cashback through TopCashback and other cashback sites over the years.

rmHawk765 · Saturday at 16:27

NCT said:
There is an apparent discrimination against non smartphone methods and I'm deeply uneasy about it.

I still purchase almost always purchase tickets at the station. For me it might even be a psychological thing - I much prefer having two CCSTs in my wallet than an app which tells me that I have purchased XYZ tickets. And there's something about collecting your physical tickets (though I appreciate this is purely me being an enthusiast).

However when I am abroad I do almost always use an app or website. In my experience, ticket machine interfaces on the continent can be a bit... questionable. The British system wouldn't make sense to a foreigner but not because the layout is complicated, rather because the types of tickets are extremely convoluted and complex.

kaspertron · Sunday at 06:41

We have the same development here in Sweden as in Finland - no more ticket offices or even ticket machines, anyone wanting to buy a ticket at the station is expected to go to Pressbyrån (equivalent of R-Kioski, in fact the same parent company).

If one considers it reasonable to be buying train tickets in the same place as people buy hotdogs, coffee and cigarettes I've always thought that a nicer development would be that the ticket offices stayed open and started selling hotdogs and cigarettes themselves.

U-Bahnfreund · Sunday at 07:37

Hagen municipal operator Hagener Straßenbahn had ticket machines at some stops during the last years of the tram era, my 1975/76 timetable has a list of them. Later I only remember one machine at one of our central bus stations, but that was decommissioned sometime on the mid-2000s. Nowadays tickets are sold by drivers, at the two offical customer centres or a few other neighbourhood shops. There's also ticket machines at the railway stations that sell tickets of course, but those are the responsibility of the rail authority and not Hagener Straßenbahn.

Trivia: networks that have scrapped ticket machines

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