National Tariff System

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The National Tariff System (Dutch: nationaal tariefsysteem or nationale vervoerbewijzen/NVB) is a nationwide ticketing and zoning scheme for local public transport in the Netherlands. The two key elements of ticketing in the system are the strippenkaart (Strip card) and the sterabonnement (Star subscription), both of which rely on the zoning element that divides the country up into several zones. Although a national system, it does not apply to Dutch Railways, which have their own pricing regime; however there are limited sections of railway (generally in urban areas or on non-NS lines) on which the system is valid.

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[edit] Validity

The National Tariff System applies on most local bus and tram routes, with the exception of special tourist and leisure services, express services, night buses; and buurtbussen, which are neighbourhood services run by volunteers.

[edit] Validity on the Railways

The system also applies to the following rail routes:

[edit] Tickets

[edit] Strippenkaart

Example of a Strippenkaart
Example of a Strippenkaart

The Strippenkaart is a ticket which is comprised of several strips, which must be validated when used. The passenger either validates the ticket themselves in an automatic machine, or the ticket is stamped by the driver or conductor. The number of strips to be cancelled is always the number of zones travelled through plus one extra strip, up to a maximum of 20 strips; therefore in the example in the photo, the user has made two journeys, the first through three zones, and the second in a single zone. Once validated, the ticket is valid for a certain duration dependent on the number of zones used, from 1 hour for 2 to 4 strips, to 3.5 hours for 17 to 20 strips.[1]

Strippenkaart tickets are available in denominations of 2, 3, 8, 15 and 45 strips. Reduced tariff tickets are only available in 15 strip versions. An 8-strip ticket can be used as a one-day ticket in The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht if especially validated (at the same cost). This is normally done by stamping vertically instead of horizontally. This is also the case in Amsterdam, but only for operators other than the municipal transport authority (GVB), who will issue a separate 24-hour ticket instead.[2]

Strippenkaart prices (as at 2008-01-01)

2-strippenkaart € 1.60
3-strippenkaart € 2.40
8-strippenkaart € 6.40
15-strippenkaart € 6.90
15-strippenkaart (reduced rate) € 4.60
45-strippenkaart € 20.40

Strippenkaarts are sold at various outlets, including tobacconists, tourist offices and public transport company shops. Only the smaller denomination tickets (up to 8 strips) are available on board, hence the small difference in price between 8 and 15 strip tickets, to encourage pre-purchasing which speeds up boarding times.

[edit] Sterabonnement

The Sterabonnement is the season ticket of Dutch local public transport. It is similar to the Strippenkaart in that it is zone dependent, although validity is set at the time of purchase to the number of zones chosen. The Sterabonnement is slightly different from the Strippenkaart as each ticket's validity is dependent on its "star" value (Ster is the Dutch word for star). The table below summarises the Sterabonnement's validity.

Star
value		 Validity
1-ster 1 selected zone
2-ster The selected zone + 1 adjacent zone in each direction
3-ster The selected zone + 2 adjacent zones in each direction
4-ster The selected zone + 3 adjacent zones in each direction
5-ster The selected zone + 4 adjacent zones in each direction
6-ster The selected zone + 5 adjacent zones in each direction
N All zones in the Netherlands

[edit] Zomerzwerfkaart

The Zomerzwerfkaart or "Summer roaming card" is a special ticket only available during June, July and August, which allows the bearer to travel for a whole day in the Netherlands on public transport subject to the National Tariff System. This ticket, however, is not sold by Connexxion, but is nevertheless valid on the company's services.[2]

[edit] OV-Chipkaart

Chipkaart issued by Connexxion
Chipkaart issued by Connexxion

As with many other transport ticketing systems, smartcard technology will in 2009 replace the Strippenkaart, the Sterabonnement and all other tickets. The Dutch system (which is already being rolled in), is called the OV-Chipkaart. The OV-Chipkaart was introduced as an alternative to the traditional Strippenkaart in 2005 in Rotterdam. In 2006, the program was expanded to include all the Metro lines and the SnelTram line in Amsterdam (50, 51, 53, 54). In 2008, all trams and buses will start accepting the OV-Chipkaart, and it will be possible to purchase an OV-Chipkaart anywhere in the Netherlands, with the intention that the Strippenkaart and other associated tickets will be phased out on January 1, 2009.

The OV-Chipkaart will come in two varieties – a temporary pass which allows the user to use the pass for however much is entered on the card (for example €2), and a reloadable pass, which will allow the user to reload fares directly from their bank accounts. The reloadable pass will also come in two varieties – an 'anonymous' pass, and a pass with a photo ID on the front of the card. The photo ID card will cost an extra €7.50 for each card. Holders of yearly Sterabonnement passes were given the opportunity to receive an OV-Chipkaart in September of 2006.

Users of the OV-Chipkaart will be able to swipe their card in front of a yellow machine to denote entering and leaving a tram or bus. In the Metro stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, gates are being installed to prevent people from entering or leaving the system without first swiping a valid card (currently, these stations are always open in order to allow travellers with a Strippenkaart).

The OV-Chipkaart is based on Philips (currently NXP Semiconductors) Mifare technology. The regular cards (anonymous and personal) are Mifare Classic 4K cards with about 4 Kilobytes of available storage. These cards are locked for both reading and writing with keys only known by the card vendors. The temporary passes are cheaper Mifare Ultralight cards that do not employ encryption or keys, and can be read by anyone. Mifare encryption algorithm is considered cracked nowadays and should not be used anymore.[3] Even so, the transport corporations will push through with the introduction of the OV-Chipkaart.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Dutch) [1]
  2. ^ a b (Dutch) [2]
  3. ^ Mifare — Little Security, Despite Obscurity. 24th Chaos Communication Congress. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  4. ^ Invoering ov-chipkaart gaat verder (Dutch). NOS Teletekst. NOS (2008-02-29). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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