When you’re in a rush, it can be easy to forget your travel card on the way out of the house.
But for around 3,000 commuters in Sweden, this isn’t something to worry about.
The brave commuters have futuristic microchip implants embedded into their hands to pay for their journey.
But the technology raises security and privacy issues, as the data generated could be used to track people.
SJ Rail, a Swedish rail operator, claims that up to 3,000 of its customers are embedding microchip implants into their hands to pay for their journey (pictured)
In June, SJ Rail, the Swedish train operator, announced that around 100 people were using microchips to pay for their journey.
But in a new interview with the BBC, it was revealed that an estimated 3,000 people now use the service.
In a video, the Travel Show’s Ade Adepitan said: ‘So far around 3,000 people in Sweden have a microchip.’
Commuters with a microchip in their hand are able to have their ticket loaded directly onto the device.
The train conductor can then read the chip with a smartphone to confirm the passenger has paid for their journey.
SJ Rail is not offering to microchip people itself, and passengers wanting to use the service must already have the futuristic technology.
Mircrochip implants are not new in Sweden, and an estimated 20,000 people already have them, using the devices to swipe in and out of the office, and even pay for food.
Speaking to the Sun Online, Stephen Ray, press officer at SJ Rail, said that the idea was put forward by a technology start-up in Stockholm called Epicenter, where many of the staff are already implanted with microchips.
While the scheme is currently only available in Sweden, the country’s travel system uses the same Near Field Communication (NFC) as contactless bank cards, and London’s oyster cards, suggesting it could be used further afield one day.
The futuristic project has not been without its hiccups, and has also generated concerns over passenger privacy.
RFID implants (pictured) use Near Field Communication technology, the same as in contactless credit cards or mobile payments
When it was launched in June, one flaw in the system meant that rail staff would sometimes be shown a passenger’s LinkedIn profile instead of their ticket information.
But Mr Ray reassured that the problem was quickly resolved, saying: ‘That’s why we call it a trial.’
Peter Dahlqvist, Head of SJ Business Sales said: ‘SJ is already one of Sweden’s most digital companies, so this new project could be started up very quickly.
‘The microchip ticket is a good example of how we are happy to try out new ideas alongside customers and help to force the pace of digital development.’
There are currently no plans to bring the scheme to the UK.