A new project jointly implemented by “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC (ADY), one of the AZCON Holding companies, and “AzInTelecom” LLC has marked the next digital milestone in the implementation of more convenient, faster, and innovative passenger transport services.
ADY provided this information to “Elchi”.
According to the information, starting from today, “SİMA Pay” – a payment system using face recognition – has been implemented on railways for the first time in Azerbaijan’s public transport sector.
In the initial phase, the face recognition payment system can be used at turnstiles at Baku Railway Station, Sumgayit Railway Station, and the “Koroglu” stop. In the next phase, it is planned to provide this modern service at all stations and stops along the Absheron circular route, as well as across the country’s railway network.
This innovative step allows passengers to pass through turnstiles quickly and conveniently without the need for any physical card or device, providing a sense of technological comfort from the very first second of their journey. Passengers can take advantage of this service by accessing the “Pass with face recognition” section in the “ADY Mobile” application.
The implementation of the “Face Pay” experience, used by leading countries of the world, in Azerbaijan through the integration of the “SİMA Pay” digital ecosystem and the “ADY Mobile” virtual card will further enhance the safety of passenger transport on railways, minimize the risks of biometric payments, and eliminate concerns such as losing a card or running out of balance.
It should be noted that in recent years, ADY has been ensuring passenger satisfaction not only with new trains and destinations but also with digital solutions that simplify daily life. Especially thanks to the innovations implemented over the last three years along the Absheron circular railway route, the passenger transport service has moved to a completely new stage. There is no longer a need to wait in queues at ticket offices or purchase physical tickets. Passengers make their payments without wasting time via bank cards, NFC, and the “ADY Mobile” application.
Statistical results also show that passengers welcome and easily adopt the innovations implemented in recent years in the direction of railway digitalization. Thus, the number of “ADY Mobile” users, launched in 2023, has already exceeded 400,000. Approximately 80 percent of passengers traveling to regions by train purchase their tickets online. At the same time, since 2024, the requirement to present only a physical ID card during registration for domestic travel has been removed; it is sufficient to present identity verification data in the form of a QR code from the “My.gov.az” portal. Furthermore, passengers can connect to free Wi-Fi on trains for both business activities and leisure time throughout their journey.