Tarifverbund Ostwind

What Tarifverbund Ostwind does

Tarifverbund OSTWIND is a Swiss public transport tariff cooperative headquartered in St. Gallen that unites 29 transport companies under a single zone-based fare system across seven cantons in Eastern Switzerland (St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Glarus, Schaffhausen, and parts of Zürich), with cross-border cooperation extending into Liechtenstein, Austria (Vorarlberg), and Germany (Hegau-Bodensee). The cooperative serves approximately 956,264 inhabitants in its coverage area, selling 15.8 million tickets and 282,804 subscriptions per year (2016 figures), and operates a Nachtnetz (night network) service on weekends and public holidays.

The core technology is a unified zone-based tariff system where fares are determined by the number of zones traversed, integrating rail, bus, ship, and cable car services under one pricing structure. The central distribution platform is the NOVA database (Netzweite ÖV-Anbindung), operated by SBB on behalf of National Direct Traffic, which handles ticket distribution and customer data. Digital interfaces include the öV Plus mobile app, SBB Mobile integration, and Fairtiq check-in/check-out functionality, with SwissPass serving as the standardized digital identity for subscriptions. Supporting products include the Product Finder (interactive tariff calculator), gift vouchers, micromobility integration with Dott and Voi, and the OSTWIND-Entdeckungsreise educational material for grades 4-6.

OSTWIND's revenue model is structured around four primary streams: single tickets and day passes (CHF 87.4M in 2016), subscriptions and travelcards (CHF 56.2M), Z-Pass cross-network tickets (CHF 12.2M), and half-fare subscriptions (CHF 10.9M), totaling CHF 166.7 million in 2016. Distribution is multi-channel: web shop (shop.ostwind.ch), mobile apps, ticket vending machines, staffed sales points, third-party retailers (kiosks, bakeries), and the SBB Contact Centre. Customer segments include regular commuters, students/youth (with fares from CHF 1.33/day up to age 25), leisure travelers, schools, and corporate clients. The cooperative is governed by a Council and Management body with representatives from member cantons and the 29 transport companies.

Name

Tarifverbund Ostwind

Legal name

Tarifverbund OSTWIND

Website

https://ostwind.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OSTWIND is a Swiss cooperative (Genossenschaft) unifying 29 transport companies under a single zone-based fare system across seven cantons in Eastern Switzerland, with cross-border cooperation into Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany. It serves commuters, youth, and leisure travelers with integrated train, bus, ship, and cable car ticketing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Single tickets and day passes: Point-to-point and zone-based single tickets, day passes, multi-day passes, and 9 o'clock day passes sold to individual passengers. Revenue from single journey traffic generated CHF 87.4 million in 2016.
2. Subscriptions and travelcards: Monthly and annual travelcards, junior subscriptions, and corporate subscriptions. Revenue from subscriptions generated CHF 56.2 million in 2016.
3. Z-Pass cross-network tickets: Cross-boundary tickets through Z-Pass integration with Zürich Transport Network (ZVV). Revenue of CHF 12.2 million in 2016.
4. Half-price subscriptions: Half-fare travelcard subscriptions valid across the OSTWIND network. Revenue of CHF 10.9 million in 2016.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tarifverbund OSTWIND is a Swiss cooperative that unites 29 transport companies under a single zone-based tariff system covering train, bus, ship, and cable car services across Eastern Switzerland. It sells single tickets, day passes, multi-ride cards, monthly and annual travelcards (including youth and corporate variants), gift vouchers, and Z-Pass cross-network tickets, and operates the Nachtnetz night network. Distribution occurs through a web shop, the öV Plus and SBB Mobile apps, Fairtiq check-in/check-out, ticket vending machines, staffed sales points, and third-party retailers.

Product overview

Tarifverbund OSTWIND is a tariff association (fare network) organized as a Swiss cooperative that unifies 29 transport companies under a single zone-based tariff system. The core product offering consists of zone-based tickets and subscriptions including single tickets, day passes, multi-ride cards, and monthly/annual travelcards (Jahresabo, Monatsabo) for bus and rail travel. Supporting products include the Nachtnetz night network service, youth fares, corporate travelcards, and digital E-Tickets. The product portfolio extends through three mobile applications: öV Plus App for ticket purchasing and real-time information, Fairtiq for automatic check-in/check-out fare calculation, and SBB Mobile integration. Micromobility partnerships with Dott and Voi provide first/last mile connectivity. The OSTWIND-Entdeckungsreise teaching material helps school children learn public transport usage. The network covers multiple Swiss cantons (St.Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell, Glarus, Schaffhausen, Zurich portions) with cross-border tariffs to Liechtenstein, Austria (Vorarlberg), and Germany (Hegau-Bodensee).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Einzelbilletts (Single Tickets)
• Tageskarten (Day Passes)
• Mehrfahrtenkarten (Multi-Ride Cards)
• Gruppenbilletts (Group Tickets)

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002SBB is the primary partner operating rail services within the OSTWIND network and provides the central NOVA database infrastructure for ticket distribution and customer data management on behalf of National Direct Traffic (NDV).
• Appenzeller Bahnen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway operator in the Appenzell region, providing regional rail services within the OSTWIND zone system.
• PostAuto AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostBus Switzerland operating regional bus services across Eastern Switzerland within the OSTWIND network.
• Thurbo AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional railway operator in Eastern Switzerland providing train services within the tariff association.
• Verkehrsbetriebe St.Gallen (VBSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal public transport operator in St. Gallen providing city bus services within the network.
• BUS Ostschweiz AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bus operator in Eastern Switzerland providing services within the tariff association.
• Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth East Railway Switzerland providing regional train services within the network.
• Regiobus AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bus operator in Gossau and surrounding area within the OSTWIND network.
• Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZürich Transport Network partnership enabling Z-Pass cross-boundary travel between OSTWIND and Zürich tariff systems.
• Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg (VVV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border partnership with Austrian transport association enabling combined tariff travel to/from Austria.
• Verkehrsverbund Hegau-Bodensee (VHB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border partnership with German transport association enabling combined tariff travel to/from Germany.
• Fürstentum Liechtenstein (LIEmobil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement with Principality of Liechtenstein enabling cross-border public transport travel.
• SwissPasscoreTechnology or IntegrationStandardized card platform for digital tickets and subscriptions across Swiss public transport, enabling seamless identification and validity verification.
• Dott and VoiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-scooter and e-bike providers offering 25% discount to OSTWIND annual pass holders for first/last mile connectivity to public transport stops.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Verkehrsverbund Hegau-Bodensee (VHB): VHB is the German cross-border tariff association adjacent to OSTWIND's territory; they have a formal cooperation agreement and share the same cooperative, multi-operator tariff model.
• Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg (VVV): VVV is the Austrian cross-border tariff association that OSTWIND partners with directly for the OSTWIND-VVV combination tariff; structurally comparable as a multi-operator zonal fare network.
• Libero Tarifverbund (Bern/Solothurn): Libero is another major Swiss integrated tariff association unifying regional train, tram, bus, and PostBus under a single zonal fare scheme, structurally identical to OSTWIND.
• Mobilis (Vaud): Mobilis is the tariff community for Canton Vaud unifying multiple transport operators under a single zonal fare scheme, making it a direct structural peer of OSTWIND.
• A-Welle (Aargau): A-Welle is the tariff association covering Canton Aargau, integrating multiple operators under one zone tariff — the same model as OSTWIND at a smaller regional scale.
• Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV): ZVV is the tariff association for the Canton of Zürich and operates an analogous zone-based integration of multiple transit operators. It is both a peer (other Swiss tariff association) and an active partner via the Z-Pass cross-network product.
• Tarifverbund Passepartout (Central Switzerland): Passepartout unifies transit operators across Lucerne and surrounding central Swiss cantons under a common zonal fare product, directly comparable to OSTWIND's structure.
• unireso (Geneva): unireso integrates Geneva-area transit operators (TPG, CFF, Mouettes, etc.) under one fare system and is structurally analogous to OSTWIND for the Léman region.

Emerging players

• Fairtiq: Fairtiq is a check-in/check-out mobile ticketing app that integrates with OSTWIND's network; it represents an emerging pay-per-use model that could complement or eventually compete with zone-based tariff logic.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB): SBB is both a partner operator within OSTWIND and a dominant Swiss federal rail incumbent whose platform (NOVA database, SBB Mobile app) underpins OSTWIND's digital distribution — relevant as a broad incumbent shaping OSTWIND's technology and policy environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ostwind.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tarifverbund-ostwind
• Instagraminstagram.com/tarifverbund.ostwind

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tarifverbund Ostwind