Estonian public-private partnership GoSwift has won the 2015 Transport Achievement Award for smart border crossing point from the International Transport Forum at the OECD.

The new solution allows pre-booking of time slots and virtual queueing for border crossings through the web, a call centre or self-service terminals.

Two of the immediate benefits for tourists with this solution included better use of the capacity of border crossing points and more efficient journey planning for trucks.

"Launching GoSwift required new thinking from the public and private stakeholders involved."

The solution has been developed as a response to 1km-long queues of vehicles waiting to cross the EU border from Estonia into Russia.

Before the launch of this new solution, waiting times at the border could reach five-six days at peak times and with the queue management service, they are now down to around 30min.

It also keeps drivers informed in real-time on the number of vehicles waiting at the border, allowing them to adapt their journey.

The mandatory pre-booking has also cut out illegal trade and reduced the thriving black market for border crossing slots.

GoSwift CEO Hannes Plinte said: "Launching GoSwift required new thinking from the public and private stakeholders involved.

"The rapid improvements at the border confirmed that it was the right approach, and we are glad to see our achievement recognised by the ITF Transport Achievement Award."

Local traffic flows and road safety has been improved with the reduction of truck queues and the environment has benefitted both locally in terms of less waste, reduced noise and fewer exhaust fumes, as well as globally through less CO² emissions from idling vehicles.

Estonia Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kristen Michal said: "We are glad that the Estonian Government made the decision in 2010 to develop and operate an electronic queue at the border.

"The concession agreement with a private company has proven a pragmatic and highly cost-effective approach. The ITF Award for GoSwift is a recognition for Estonia’s achievements in e-Government solutions."