Public transport ticketing has come a long way over the last 30 years, moving from paper-based tickets and magnetic stripe to smart cards. However, these are usually proprietary schemes developed by a single supplier, within a closed network, which require considerable capital investment and have substantial operating costs. As technology has developed in other sectors, most noticeably through mobile communications and the switch to contactless cards in the banking industry, opportunities are opening up for operators to make public transport ticketing more convenient for users and cheaper to run. They also offer new ways of collecting revenue, breaking away from traditional ticketing models. Public transport operators are already appreciating the benefits of smart card ticketing, including faster gate entry or boarding, particularly at peak times. Ticket selling is more costeffective, with a wider range of sales outlets, including the internet, whilst the security advantages over magnetic stripe and paper tickets have helped to cut fraud. More information is available about passenger movements, allowing operators to refine their services and offer loyalty products. However, customer expectations are changing rapidly. Online retail has changed consumer buying habits, and there is an expectation that all transactions can be undertaken in a fast, customer-friendly way. Standing in a queue at a ticket machine does not fit this model. So leading operators such as Transport for London are beginning to look at a new generation of open payment systems.
Evolution not revolution
Railway Gazette International ; 167 , 3 ; 57-60
2011
4 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 1 Tabelle
Article (Journal)
English
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