Baden-Württemberg launches tap-and-go transport payments with CiCoBW

A new check-in/check-out system for public transport has launched in Baden-Württemberg. Called CiCoBW, it lets passengers pay for journeys by simply tapping their smartphones when boarding and alighting. The service is now live across the Stuttgart Transport and Tariff Association (VVS) network, with plans to expand further.

CiCoBW works through the apps of local transit operators. Users must first create a free customer account within their chosen transport association's app. Once set up, they can check in and out for trips on buses, trams, and even long-distance Deutsche Bahn trains.

At the end of each month, the system generates a single bill. It automatically calculates the cheapest fare, switching to a day pass if that works out better. Additional trips within the billing period do not cost extra, as the service caps monthly charges at €72—just €9 more than the price of a Deutschlandticket. Baden-Württemberg is not the first region to introduce this kind of system. Similar services already operate in at least six other German transport associations. These include the KVV and VVS in Baden-Württemberg, ÜSTRA in Hannover, VRR in the Ruhr area with eezy.nrw, and AVV/Aachen with easyConnect/eezy.

The new system aims to simplify fare calculations and reduce costs for regular travellers. By integrating with existing transit apps, CiCoBW offers a seamless way to pay for journeys across different modes of transport. Passengers in the VVS network can now use the service, with potential expansions to other regions in the future.