Buscor, a South African bus operator, will implement a contactless ticketing system from Affiliated Computer Services (ACS).
ACS says it's implementing its Atlas system for Buscor, featuring contactless ticketing for the nearly 160 000 passengers who ride Buscor's 400 buses daily in Mpumalanga.
“Buscor told us they were seeking an improvement in secure cash collections and better reporting. We have designed a state-of-the-art solution that meets these requirements and opens up future opportunities,” says Mathias Serre, key account manager at ACS Transportation Solutions.
The proposed system combines paper tickets for single trips and contactless cards for subscription, which can be reloaded at Buscor's point of sales, explains Ken Ericson, director of corporate communications at ACS.
Go-live of the solution is expected by the end of the first quarter in 2011, according to Ericson.
Hands-off
Contactless ticketing is convenient for passengers, who can board buses with the wave of a fare card, says ACS.
The company adds that there is improved efficiency for Buscor, which receives fare transaction information from buses in real-time. On the whole, Buscor expects the new system to improve passenger and operational efficiency.
“The technology will help us lower costs in addition to helping control fraud by improved tracking of activities on the system,” says Johann Bester, IT manager at Buscor.
Ericson says the system is already deployed in a number of large cities like Lyon, Nancy, Marseille and Toulouse, in France; Montreal, in Canada; and Riga, in Latvia. It will soon also be implemented in Adelaide, Australia.
The implementation also allows for interoperability with other local bus operators, says ACS.
Digital drivers
In addition, ACS will deploy SA's first touch-screen driver consoles in Buscor buses, according to the technology company.
Ericson explains that the driver console will be used for printing paper tickets, validating contactless cards, and interfacing with the display announcement panel on the front of the bus.
He adds that the consoles will also allow the driver to open and close their shift, upload all ticketing data to the central application, and can also be used for tracking and security purposes.
“The 14-month project includes system design, customisation, training and installation of the Atlas back-office system. ACS will work closely with Buscor to ensure a seamless transition to the new technology,” says ACS.
The ACS Atlas ticketing system is a multimodal solution, designed to cover public transportation systems including buses, metros, tramways or taxis, says Ericson. He adds that because of this, the system could see a wide rollout across SA. “We see this as a viable solution for the South African market.”
Related story:
Tech drives Bus Rapid Transit system
Share
