A Italian bus operator is replacing its paper ticket based system with a solution that combines magnetic stripe cards and contactless technology.
Once the new system is rolled out, 83 bus routes – the equivalent to 236 buses – will be equipped with the new technology.
Thales has been awarded the contract to supply the secure ticketing system for FTV Vicenza, the operator of the suburban bus network and several urban bus networks in the Italian province of Vicenza, in partnership with Italy’s PluService.
The ticketing system will enable FTV Vicenza to collect data on passenger bus usage to optimise vehicle management, integrate its equipment with systems employed by other operators and suppliers, and also allow passengers to top up or renew their travel cards over the internet or via the telephone. The product firm adds that the new system is fully compliant with the requirements of the directive recently issued by the Veneto Regional Authority, which requires the implementation of a fully integrated, automated, regional ticketing system.
Ticket validation
The contract with Thales includes the supply of ticket issuing and validation and control equipment, such as magnetic and contactless validators, handheld validation units for checking tickets on-board buses, and automatic ticket issuing machines for installation at bus stations. Passengers will have the option of purchasing tickets and travel passes using Thales ARTEMA point-of-sale terminals installed at authorised retail outlets. Thales adds that it is supplying the servers, the data concentrators at each bus depot and the central control system for the bus networks. PluService is providing the software for the central control system.
Entry and exit
As part of the trial roll-out, the Italian operator also plans to install entry and exit ticket validation units on 40 buses. The system is based on contactless cards, which operate as e-purses. When boarding the bus, passengers validate their cards and the maximum fare possible for a journey on that route is deducted. The card is then validated a second time upon leaving the bus and is re-credited in line with the exact fare for the journey made. If the trial proves successful, FTV Vicenza hopes to extend the system throughout its suburban bus network.
What they say
“We are delighted with this new contract win in Italy,” said Jean-Louis Olié, Managing Director of Thales Transportation Systems. “Contactless technology and access validation systems have already been tested in the Treviso province. Interest is gathering pace in this type of solution among Italy’s transport operators.”
