Lithuania has taken the first legislative step toward a fully integrated national transport system, with the Seimas (Parliament) now considering a proposal to introduce a single-ticket platform by 2028. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, aims to consolidate various modes of travel—including trains, buses, ferries, and private ride-sharing services—into a single digital ecosystem.
If approved, the amendments would formally introduce the concept of a “joint ticket” into Lithuanian law for the first time. This legal framework is essential for establishing a modern national system that allows passengers to plan, book, and pay for multi-modal journeys through a single interface, regardless of the service provider.
A Unified Vision for National Mobility
The proposed system is designed to address the fragmentation currently seen in regional transport. While major cities like Vilnius and Kaunas have their own successful local ticketing systems, traveling between municipalities often requires navigating multiple platforms and payment methods. The new national system is intended to act as a “connecting link,” ensuring that a traveler can move from a regional train to a city bus, and finally to an electric scooter, all under one digital transaction.
Transport Minister Juras Taminskas emphasized that the goal is to create a seamless experience that bridges the gap between urban centers and rural regions. “People will be able to plan their entire trip at once and use a joint ticket across different modes of transport,” Taminskas stated. “This will help connect cities and regions into one convenient communication system. A person starting a journey by train can continue it by bus and reach their final destination by scooter.”
Data Sharing and Private Sector Integration
A critical component of the legislation involves the mandatory sharing of data. Under the proposed changes, carriers and passenger transport organizers would be legally obligated to share real-time data and provide the technical means for their services to be settled within the national planning system.
This move aligns Lithuania with the broader European trend of “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS), which seeks to reduce reliance on private car ownership by making public and shared transport as convenient as possible. Unlike many existing systems that focus solely on state-run rail or municipal buses, the Lithuanian proposal explicitly includes “last mile” solutions. This encompasses rapidly growing mobility services such as ride-hailing and vehicle-sharing platforms, ensuring that the journey is covered from the doorstep to the final destination.
Implementation and Global Tendering
The Ministry has clarified that the national system is not intended to compete with or replace existing local or private ticketing apps. Instead, it will serve as a national infrastructure layer that facilitates inter-regional travel.
Once the Seimas approves the legislative package, the Ministry of Transport and Communications plans to initiate an international tender to develop the information system. This procurement process will seek a technological partner capable of building a robust, scalable platform that can handle the complexities of multi-operator settlements and real-time scheduling updates.
The development of the joint ticket system is a key objective of the current Government’s program. With a target launch date of 2028, the project represents one of the most ambitious digital transformations of the country’s infrastructure since joining the European Union. For international observers and commuters alike, the success of this project could serve as a blueprint for how smaller nations can leverage technology to solve the logistical challenges of national-scale transit integration.
Source: ELTA
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