Reliikkikortit

Reliikkikortit, literally “mileage cards,” are a type of journey ticket issued in Finland that record an individual’s travel distances on commuter trains. The concept was introduced in the 1970s to streamline fare collection in the expanding suburban rail network of the Helsinki region. Citizens who purchase a reliikkikortti can travel on most commuter trains for a defined period, typically ranging from a week to a month, while the card itself records the kilometers ridden.

The card works by magnetic encoding or RFID. When a passenger boards a train, the conductor scans the card, which reads the passenger’s journey. The driving distance is added to the passenger’s account stored electronically in the national rail system database. At the end of the validity period, the person pays a fare based on the total kilometres recorded, using a graduated tariff structure that rewards longer continuous trips with lower per‑kilometre costs. Riders who exceed a certain distance threshold may qualify for a flat fee, providing an incentive to use public transport for daily commutes.

Reliikkikortit are managed by the Passenger and Freight Rail Authority and are issued by participating commuter rail operators. The cards are also used by students, senior citizens, and other demographic groups through subsidised schemes. Integration with the national public transport payment platform, Uusi Rautatiejärjestelmä, allows for seamless top‑up and tickets transfer across various rail lines.

While the original reliikkikortit were not fully digital, modern iterations support contactless tap‑in and tap‑out, eliminating the need for scanning in each carriage. As part of Finland’s broader effort to promote sustainable transportation, reliikkikortit remain a key tool in encouraging use of regional rail, particularly in the Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku areas.