Automated fare collection


An automated fare collection system is the collection of components that automate the ticketing system of a public transportation network - an automated version of manual fare collection. An AFC system is usually the basis for integrated ticketing.
ese automated fare collection gate, 2015

System description

AFC systems often consist of the following components :
In addition to processing electronic fare media, many AFC systems have equipment on vehicles and stations that accepts cash payment in some form.

Fare media

AFC systems originated with tokens or paper tickets dispensed by staff or from self-service vending machines. These have generally been replaced with magnetic stripe cards.
Since their introduction in 1997 with the Octopus card in Hong Kong, contactless smart cards have become the standard fare media in AFC systems, though many systems support multiple media types.
More recently, contactless smart cards from bank networks have been seen more frequently in AFC.

Devices to read/write media

These take numerous forms, including:
, where commuters can add value to their EZ-Link card or purchase a single trip ticket.
Unattended devices are often called "validators", a term which originated with devices that would stamp a date/time onto paper tickets to provide proof of valid payment for a conductor.

Depot/station computers

Used to concentrate data communications with devices in a station or bus depot. Common in older AFC systems where communication lines to upper tiers were slow or unreliable.

Back office

Servers and software to provide management and oversight of the AFC system. Usually includes:
In environments where multiple system operators share common, interoperable media, a central system similar to those used in stock exchanges can be used to provide financial management and other services to the operators such as:
Canada's first public transit agency, the Toronto Street Railway Co., started in 1861 with a horse-drawn streetcar service but it was not until 1912 that the City of Toronto began deliberations on fare collection. It was not until 126 years later that Mississauga Transit became one of the first Transit Agencies in Canada to implement an Electronic Farebox. Since then, almost every major city in Canada has adopted use of electronic fare boxes.
Notably, Canada also produces fare collection devices for various transit agencies in North America. , located in Mississauga, Ontario, currently manufactures and develops high tech fare collection solutions.

Automated fare collection in the United States

The first faregates in United States were installed experimentally in 1964 at Forest Hills and Kew
Gardens Long Island Rail Road stations in Queens; the first systemwide installation was on
Illinois Central Railroad in 1965 for its busy Chicago commuter service Financed entirely from private funds, AFC was expected to reduce operating costs by
decreasing on-board crew sizes and eliminating station agents at all but the busiest stations. Cubic’s
IC system featured entry-exit swipes to enforce zonal fare structures, checks against fraud,
used ticket collection, and ridership/revenue data collection capabilities. It served as a
prototype for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and Philadelphia’s Port Authority Transit Corporation
Lindenwold Line NX-zonal AFC systems. These railroad-style systems required
complex computer data processing on faregates or remotely on a central computer, and thus
were not suitable for buses. Similar systems are still in use on Japan and Taiwan’s commuter
railroads, and the London Underground.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority ’s desire for simpler AFC systems
resulted in Duncan developing turnstile machines for
entry-only subway fare collection. Chicago Transit Authority ’s ChicagoCard, Boston
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority ’s previous generation “T-Pass”, and
New York City Transit ’s MetroCard systems could all be considered MARTA’s 1977 system’s conceptual
descendants.
Bus fareboxes had hitherto been much simpler devices, mechanically registering coins deposited
on accumulating registration counters. Duncan’s 1973 “Faretronic” farebox was the first to
electronically count coins and collect revenue/ridership data by fare class. Keene quickly
followed suit, introducing a design meeting Urban Mass Transit Administration Section
15 reporting requirements, also collecting fuel consumption and bus mileage data. In New
York, mechanical fareboxes were preferred for ease of maintenance until widespread deployment
of Cubic's MetroCard for buses in 1997. Venerable GFI fareboxes featuring magnetic pass
readers requiring cash single fares lasted in Boston until Scheidt-Bachmann’s CharlieCard was
introduced in 2006.

Examples

This is a list of a few notable AFC systems.
LocationBrandNotes
NetherlandsOV-ChipkaartThis is the Dutch national AFC system. It works on all types of public transport in the whole country including Bus, Tram, Metro and Train. The system is sponsored by the Dutch government and run by Translink Systems in cooperation with individual transportation companies.
IncheonCashbee cardProvides a various AFC solutions and consulting services
BusanCashbee cardProvides a various AFC solutions and consulting services
TehranE-TicketContactless smart cards for transportation+Parking meter+CharityBox
İzmirİzmirimkartContactless smart cards for transportation
İstanbulakbil/istanbulkartContactless smart cards for transportation, supports 14 different operators since 1995.
SeoulT-moneyProvides a various AFC solutions and consulting services
Hong KongOctopus cardThe first to use contactless smart cards in volume
PhilippinesBeep cardIntermodal AFCS solutions and smart-city design
AnkaraAnkaraKartContactless smart cards for public transport
IndiaMore cardContactless smart cards for public transport
MedellínCívicaContactless smart cards for public transport
MelbourneMykiContactless smart cards for public transport
SydneyOpal cardContactless smart cards for public transport
Metro VancouverCompass CardContactless smart cards for all modes of public transit in the Metro Vancouver Regional District
MoscowTroika_cardContactless smart cards for public transport
SingaporeEZ-LinkSupports the broadest number of modes, including tolls
TbilisiMetroMoneyContactless smart cards for public transport
Southern OntarioPresto cardSupports multiple cities in Southern Ontario, used by the majority of transit operators in the Greater Toronto, Hamilton & Ottawa Area
New YorkMetroCardA magnetic stripe system in the largest transit system in the USA
ChicagoVentraThe largest automated fare collection contract ever placed in North America.
BangladeshSPassContactless smart cards in Bangladesh.
MalaysiaTouch 'n GoContactless smart cards Solutions provider.
ThailandRabbit CardRabbit contactless smart cards is an e-money system that can be used on the BTS and other mass transit networks.
Niagara Fallsi-Ride Cardi-Ride contactless smart card is a ride-based system that can be used in the Niagara Falls region of Ontario.
MontrealOpus CardContactless smart cards for public transport
WinnipegPeggo CardContactless smart cards with online purchase and automated reload capabilities
Narva:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Imatra:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Södermanland:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Västmanland:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Gotland:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Nuuk:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Haapsalu:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Viljandi:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Pärnu:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Klaipeda:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Tartu:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Kiev:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Tallinn:Ridango|RidangoAutomated Fare Collection System
Baku:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Doha:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Lahore:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Islamabad:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Tczew:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Amman:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Adana:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Alanya:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Antakya:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Antalya:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Aydın:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Bandırma:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Bodrum:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Burdur:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Çanakkale:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Edirne:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Fethiye:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
İnegöl:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Isparta:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Kastamonu:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Kocaeli:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Lüleburgaz:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Mersin:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Muğla:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Niğde:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Sivas:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport
Yozgat:tr:Kentkart|KentkartContactless smart cards for public transport