Turnit is playing a central role in Estonia’s push toward a more connected and user‑centric mobility ecosystem. Through the MaaS X‑Tee (X‑Road) initiative, led by the Government Office and the Transport Administration, the country is developing a unified data exchange platform to link public transport ticketing systems and mobility services nationwide. The Estonian company has been selected to develop the prototype.
According to Aivar Hiio, Head of Innovation at the Government Office, Estonia’s transport services currently operate largely in isolation from one another. Rail, bus, tram, ferry, aviation, micromobility and car rental services all rely on separate booking and ticketing systems that do not interoperate. This fragmentation makes it difficult for passengers to plan seamless journeys across operators and modes of transport.
The initiative aims to address this by introducing a standardised data and query layer that enables mobility services to work together. The goal is to allow users to plan an entire journey, select suitable connections and purchase tickets through a single interface, laying the groundwork for a more user-friendly and efficient mobility ecosystem.
Estonia pilots new platform to unite mobility services by the end of 2026
The platform will initially be piloted as an intermediary layer connecting different transport service providers. In addition to simplifying journey planning, it is expected to enable integrated tickets, shared travel rights and joint products across operators. The prototype is planned for completion in November 2026.
Ülo Säre, CEO of Turnit, noted that the company has implemented similar solutions in several countries and can now bring that experience to Estonia, creating a strong foundation for collaboration across the national transport system. He also highlighted that it is encouraging to see Estonia moving decisively toward next-generation mobility solutions.
The long-term objective is to deliver an open and functional solution that both the state and service providers can adopt freely. In the broader perspective, the platform is expected to enhance the attractiveness of public transport and alternative mobility services while supporting more sustainable travel options in Estonia.
Turnit helps drive Estonia’s push for an integrated mobility ecosystem
Johann Peetre, Head of Mobility Planning at the Transport Administration, described the initiative as an important step toward a more integrated mobility ecosystem and a key part of Estonia’s broader public transport reform. In addition to harmonising ticket purchasing and seat reservations, the platform is expected to create opportunities for international service providers to integrate with Estonia’s mobility ecosystem, potentially benefiting the tourism sector as well.
Turnit’s contribution to the project builds on experience from Turnit Hub, the company’s multimodal distribution platform designed to connect different transport operators and mobility services. Turnit Hub already powers large-scale environments that link multiple operators through shared infrastructure, most notably Sweden’s national distribution system Samtrafiken NDS, where more than 50 mobility providers are connected.
The project is supported by the Innovation Fund coordinated by the Government Office, which helps public sector institutions develop and test innovative, research-based solutions in cooperation with industry and research partners. The project is financed under the European Union Cohesion Policy 2021–2027 measure, Increasing Public Sector Innovation Capacity.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Turnit is a travel technology company with over 20 years of experience developing inventory management, sales, and distribution systems for the passenger transport industry.
- Its products include Turnit Ride, a cloud-native central sales and inventory management system used by transport operators worldwide, and Turnit Hub, a multi-modal, multi-operator, broker, and distribution solution enabling cross-operator ticket sales and integrated journeys.
- Turnit’s technology is used by more than 80 transport operators globally, including mobility and public transport leaders such as TfNSW, Samtrafiken, Vy Group, Bus Éireann, CTM, and LTG Link.
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