No major changes until 1 July 2024
You do not need to replace your travel card/bus card or download a new version of the AKT Billett ticket app, even though we are introducing a new ticketing system on 1 July.
Please note that until 1 July 2024, there will be no major changes. You can purchase and use tickets on the bus as usual. The changes described below mainly apply from 1 July 2024, but please be aware that a new Flexi-ticket in the AKT Billet ticket app is scheduled to be available from mid-April 2024. The old webshop AKT Nettbutikk will also be closed from mid-June 2024 until the new web shop is available on 1 July 2024. From 1 July you can also use regular tickets on night buses.
A new ticketing system
From 1 July 2024, you might travel a little differently in Agder. We are introducing a new ticketing system that may bring changes for those who travel by public transport. The extent of these changes depends on the type of tickets you use. From 1 July, the tickets will be stored in the "cloud" through the online store, which will eventually provide greater flexibility in terms of where you can store and manage your travel document, whether it's in the AKT Ticket app, on a travel card, or other ticket media.
The familiar travel card readers on board the buses will be replaced by simpler version up front at the bus driver, which you must use to "activate" a period ticket, register/scan other tickets, or obtain a printout/balance on the travel card from the driver.
From 1 July you will also experience much greater flexibility in terms of how you purchase period tickets, which can be bought for 1 zone, 2 zones, or all zones (valid throughout Agder), both on travel cards and the AKT Billett ticket app for all age categories. If you occasionally travel in the Kristiansand-region, you can purchase the new Flexi-ticket (Flexibillett) in the AKT Billett ticket app, as a replacement for the traditional Flexi-card (on travel cards) which will not be sold on travel cards after 1 July.
Short summary on the introduction of the new ticketing system
Here you will find a short summary on how the introduction of the new ticketing system affects you:
- We are introducing a web shop for buying tickets. The new web shop will be operational from 1 July 2024. Note that the previous web shop will be closed for the sale of tickets from mid-June 2024. For the purchase of period tickets on a travel card during the period when the online shop is not available, we recommend that you use our customer centers and sales on board the bus. The new online store will have limited functionality at the start. Functions such as personal login and purchase history will not be available in the first phase. For you as a customer, this means that you must enter the travel card number each time the online store is used.
- All period tickets can be purchased for 1 zone, 2 zones or the whole of Agder. This gives you greater flexibility in relation to your travel pattern
- Period tickets for 7 days and 180 days are extended to apply to the age groups Child, Youth, Young adult, Senior and Student
- Student category is introduced on 7-day/30-day/180-day period tickets
- Flexikort (on travel card) is replaced by the new Flexibillett 10 journeys in the AKT Billet ticket app. At a later stage, you will again also be able to buy Flexibilettes on travel cards
- If you use travel money, you will no longer be able to travel with a so-called Autoreise/fixed journey. All journeys with pay-as-you-go-credit must be purchased i from the bus driver, you still get a discount by using travel money compared to if you were to buy the ticket in cash from the driver
- The traditional card readers are replaced by simpler card readers in front of the driver. If you want to read the remaining journeys/balance, we recommend that you use our new online store where you can easily manage your ticket purchases. Alternatively, you must ask the driver for a printout of the balance on the travel card. Tickets on travel cards must always be "started" or activated on a travel card reader by the driver in order for the ticket to be valid.
- Tickets purchased in the AKT Billett app must be presented with the current QR code/control button to the driver when boarding outside Kristiansand/Vennesla. In Kristiansand/Vennesla, you do not need to show your mobile ticket to the driver, there you can get on the bus via the back door once you have activated the ticket (but there is no longer a card reader at the back door).
The onboard ticketing equipment
The onboard ticketing equipment consists of the driver's ticket machine, a card reader for reading travel cards, and a payment machine/receipt printer.
Frequently asked questions
We are aware that the introduction of a new ticket system may involve uncertainty in relation to which tickets you can buy, how you can buy the tickets and how you will travel with the tickets on board the bus.
The new ticket scheme does not necessarily mean such big changes for you as a customer. Below, we have tried to answer some of the questions you may have about the introduction of the new ticket system.
No, you do not need to download a new AKT Billett ticket app. Tickets you bought in the AKT Billett ticket app before 1 July will still work as normal after 1 July.
In the AKT Billett ticket app, you can buy single tickets, period tickets and the new Flexibilett.
To buy period tickets in the AKT Billett ticket app:
You can buy the tickets in the usual way in AKT Billett ticket app. From 1 July you can buy the following period tickets in the AKT Billett ticket app:
- 24-hour period ticket for children, adults and seniors
- NEW: 7-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, seniors and students
- 30-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, seniors and students (NEW)
- NEW: 180-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, seniors and students
Traveling with period tickets in the AKT Billett ticket app:
- Outside the Kristiansand area: You must board the bus via the front door and show the ticket's controlpage with QR code to the driver.
- In the Kristiansand area (in Kristiansand/Vennesla): You can board the bus via the back door (or front door) in Kristiansand/Vennesla, you do not need to show the mobile ticket to the driver, as long as the ticket is activated. However, you must always have the ticket ready for ticket inspection.
From 1 July, there are no longer card/ticket readers on board that can read the mobile ticket's QR code (control).
- On buses outside Kristiansand/Vennesla, you must board the bus via the front door and show the ticket's QR code/control to the bus driver when you board the bus.
- In Kristiansand/Vennesla you can still get on the bus via the back door. You therefore do not need to show activated tickets to the driver when you get on the bus.
No, you can use your old travel card/bus card also after 1 July. You do not need to exchange it for a new travel card.
You will still be able to use period tickets purchased and used before 1 July on the bus after 1 July.
- In Kristiansand/Vennesla, you do not need to read the period ticket on the bus's card reader if the ticket is "active" (started up) in advance. Then you can also get on the bus via the back door. If you have bought a period ticket in the web shop or customer centre, you must "start" or activate the period ticket on the bus's card reader next to the driver.
- Outside of Kristiansand/Vennesla, you must both "start" or activate the ticket on the travel card and validate the ticket on the card reader next to the driver every time you get on the bus.
Flexikort on travel card will not be available after 1 July (you must use Flexibillett with 10 journeys in the AKT Billett (ticketing) app)
The travelcard reader on board the bus is simpler version than the card reader you are familiar with. From 1 July, there is only a card reader in front of the bus driver, both in the Kristiansand area and outside the Kristiansand area.
In Kristiansand/Vennesla, you do not need to scan the ticket as long as the ticket is activated. Outside Kristiansand/Vennesla, you must validate the travel card on the travel card reader. The card reader cannot visually read QR codes and therefore you cannot read mobile tickets in the AKT Billett app on the travel card reader.
On the new travel card reader, you will only get a green or red signal that shows whether the ticket is valid or not. You can no longer read the remaining period or balance on your travel card or retrieve other information about your tickets. To find out the balance or remaining period, you must ask the driver for a printout of the ticket/travel card.
Billettutstyret om bord består av sjåførens billettmaskin, kortleser for avlesing av reisekort, samt betalingsautomat/kvitteringsskriver
For some travellers, the introduction of a new ticket system will entail changes compared to today.
- You MUST board the bus via the front door and buy the ticket from the driver if you are traveling with Pay-as-you-go-credit or want to buy other single tickets from the driver. You must also enter via the front door when traveling with the AKT Billett ticket app outside Kristiansand/Vennesla and show the mobile ticket's QR code to the driver (in Kristiansand/Vennesla you do not have to show the QR code to the driver) or validate the ticket on the travel card reader if you travel with a period ticket outside Kristiansand/Vennesla.
Both in and outside Kristiansand, you must read the travel card on the travel card reader next to the driver the first time you travel in a new period, so that the ticket is activated and valid. Note that the card reader is a simpler version than before, which only shows a green and red signal in relation to whether you have a valid or invalid ticket. Outside of Kristiansand, you must validate the travel card on each journey (so you always know if you have a valid ticket). - You CAN get on the bus via the back door with pre-purchased tickets in the Kristiansand area, if you have activated the ticket in advance:
- Period tickets on travel cards and the AKT Billett Ticket app in Kristiansand/Vennesla
- Single ticket in the AKT Billett ticket app in Kristiansand/Vennesla
- Flexiticket in the AKT Billett ticket app in Kristiansand/Vennesla
Period tickets on mobile ticket AKT Ticket
Buying period tickets in the AKT Billett ticket app:
You can buy the tickets in the usual way in AKT Billett ticket app. From 1 July you can buy the following period tickets in the AKT Billett app:
- 24-hour period ticket for children, adults and honourees
- 7-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, honorees and students
- 30-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, honorees and students
- 180-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, honorees and students
On board the bus with the AKT Billett ticket app:
- In Kristiansand/Vennesla: You can board the bus via the back door in the Kristiansand area, you no longer need to read the QR code on the travel card reader. However, you must always have the ticket ready for ticket inspection.
- Outside Kristiansand/Vennesla: You must board the bus via the front door and show the ticket's QR code to the driver.
Period tickets on travel card
Buying period tickets on a travel card:
From 1 July you can buy the following period tickets on the travel card in the online shop or our customer centres:
- 30-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, honorees and students
- 180-day period ticket for children, youth, young adults, adults, honorees and students
On board the bus with period tickets on travel card:
- In Kristiansand/Vennesla: You can board the bus via the back door in the Kristiansand area with an activated ticket, but you no longer need to read the ticket on the card reader.However, you must always have the ticket ready for ticket inspection. If you are going to "start" (activate the ticket) you must use the front door and the card reader by the driver.
- Outside Kristiansand/Vennesla: You must board the bus at the front door and validate the ticket on the travel card on the driver's card reader.
Flexibilett in the AKT Billett ticket app
From mid-April you can buy the Flexibilett-ticket for Kristiansand, Vennesla, Lillesand, Birkenes and Iveland in the AKT Billett ticket app. The Flexibilett replaces the Flexikort on the travel card, which will not be available after 1 July 2024. Remaining journeys on the current Flexikort (travel card) must be used by 1 July 2024. Alternatively, you must contact the customer center in Kristiansand to find solutions for transferring remaining value after 1 July.
On board the bus
You must "activate" the Flexibilett-journey yourself before you board the bus. On buses in Kristiansand/Vennesla you can board the bus without showing the ticket to the bus driver, outside in Kristiansand/Vennesla you must present the Flexibilett's QR code/control code to the driver when boarding.
You can still travel with pay-as-you-go-credit (NO: Reisepenger), which gives a discount on the single ticket compared to if you buy the ticket in cash from the driver. If you buy a single ticket withpay-as-you-go-credit, you will no longer be able to travel with a so-called Autoreise/fixed journey. All journeys with pay-as-you-go-credit must be purchased in advance from the driver, who issues the single ticket on the bus's ticket equipment.
If you now travel with tickets purchased with the AKT Billett ticket app, you will mostly buy the ticket in the same way as today, but you will no longer be able to read the ticket on the travel card reader.
NEW: From mid April you can buy Flexibillett (10 journeys) as a mobile ticket in AKT Billett ticket app which you can use for journeys in Kristiansand, Vennesla, Lillesand, Birkenes and Iveland. Tickets you have remaining on your old Flexikort must be used by 1 July 2024. After this date, you can visit the customer center in Kristiansand to have remaining journeys transferred.
On board the bus
Note that from 1 July you cannot read the ticket's QR code on the card/ticket reader (with the Control button in the mobile app), you must now show the QR code to the driver if you are traveling outside Kristiansand/Vennesla. In Kristiansand/Vennesla, you can get on the bus without showing the ticket to the driver as long as the ticket is activated.
Tickets on travel cards
If you are currently traveling with tickets on a travel card, changes may occur for you, depending on which ticket products you use.
New web shop from 1 July
You can start using our new web shop from 1 July 2024. Initially, the web shop will appear in a simplified version, which will not include personal login and purchase history. This means that you must enter the travel card number every time you buy tickets in the webshop.
On board the bus
- In the Kristiansand area: You can board the bus via the back door in Kristiansand/Vennesla with an activated ticket, but you no longer need to read the ticket on the card reader. However, you must always have the ticket ready for ticket inspection If you are going to "start" (activate the ticket) you must use the front door and the travel card reader next to the driver.
- Outside the Kristiansand area: You must board the bus via the front door and validate the ticket on the travel card on the driver's travel card reader, every time you get on the bus.
Period tickets
Note that the travelcard/ticket readers on board the buses are being replaced and you can therefore no longer read the remaining days/balance on the period ticket. You must contact the driver to find out the remaining balance. The new travel card readers in front of the driver will only give a red/green signal in relation to whether you have a valid ticket or not. Tickets bought in the online shop or customer center must be started/activated at the start of a new period with the driver, in order for the ticket to be valid.
Pay-as-you-go-credit (Reisepenger)
If you pay for your single journey with Pay-as-you-go-credit (Reisepenger), you will no longer be able to use the added Autoreise/fixed journey. You can still use Pay-as-you-go-credit (Reisepenger), but you must contact the driver and have the ticket purchased there
Flexikort becomes Flexibilett
Flexikort in the Kristiansand region (10/20 clip) will no longer be found on travel card You must instead use Flexibilett with 10 clips/journeys on the AKT Billet ticket app for journeys in the Kristiansand region. In the AKT Billett ticket app, you must "activate" the journey yourself and show it to the driver if you travel outside Kristiansand/Vennesla. Remaining journeys on today's Flexikort (travel card) must be used by 1 July 2024. Alternatively, you must contact the customer center in Kristiansand to find solutions for transferring the remaining value
Billettutstyret om bord består av sjåførens billettmaskin, kortleser for avlesing av reisekort, samt betalingsautomat/kvitteringsskriver
You can still buy single tickets and top up period tickets from the driver with a bank card or cash after 1 July.
We recommend that you use a bank card when paying to ensure the fastest possible dispatch, which makes it easier for the buses to keep to their timetables.
Billettutstyret om bord består av sjåførens billettmaskin, kortleser for avlesing av reisekort, samt betalingsautomat/kvitteringsskriver
Yes, from 1 July you can use the ordinary tickets, also on night buses. This means that you do not need to buy a night bus ticket (which has been subject to separate travel conditions), but that you can travel with your regular period ticket/single ticket/Flexibillet-ticket.