Baden-Württemberg's CiCoBW launches seamless smartphone ticketing for transit
A new digital ticketing system called CiCoBW has launched across Baden-Württemberg. The service lets passengers check in and out of trains and buses using their smartphones. At the end of each month, users receive a single bill with the lowest possible fare applied automatically.
The system works by tracking journeys through a smartphone app. Passengers must first create a free account within their local transit association's app to activate CiCoBW. Once set up, the service detects boarding and alighting, calculating the cheapest fare for each day's travel.
CiCoBW is now available in the Stuttgart Transport and Tariff Association (VVS) network, integrated directly into the city's existing public transit app. Monthly costs are capped at €72, matching the price of a Deutschlandticket plus an additional €9. Baden-Württemberg is not the first region to introduce such a system. At least five other German transport associations have rolled out similar check-in/check-out services. These include KVV's Swipe2Go in Karlsruhe, ÜSTRA easy in Hannover, eezy.nrw in the Ruhr region, and systems in the Rhein-Main area.
The new system simplifies fare calculations for passengers by charging the best available rate after each journey. With a €72 monthly cap, it offers a predictable cost for regular travellers. Similar services are already in use across several other German cities and regions.
