Automation Fare Collection Systems. Implemented Projects

Automatic Fare Collection and Passenger Counting Systems at the Kiev Funicular, Ukraine

In 2011, LOT Group was engaged in the replacement of an outdated fare collection system with a new one at the upper and lower stations of the Kiev Funicular.

Our company developed, manufactured and implemented the software and hardware complex required to enable the system’s efficient operation, including:

• Automatic checkpoints (three turnstiles at the upper station and three more turnstiles at the lower one).
• Central server software.
• Automatic token calculation and reactivation machines.
• The Administrator’s workstation with the required software installed on it.

The Project’s Features:

• The system’s daily passenger flow is currently around 6000 visitors per day.
• To better fill the customer’s needs, LOT Group designed and manufactured a custom turnstile model specifically for this project.

Automatic Fare Collection and Passenger Counting Systems for the Urban Electric Train in Kyiv, Ukraine

In 2011, LOT Group was engaged in development and implementation of Automatic Fare Collection, passenger counting and access control systems at 14 stations of Kiev Urban Electric Train. In accordance with the customer’s requirements, LOT Group developed an automatic system that was seamlessly integrated into the city’s existing fare collection system. This allowed using the system’s electronic tickets and cards for some of the other types of Kiev’s public transport, for example, the Kiev Light Rail.

The system allows using a range of payment media, including:

• Bar-coded paper tickets.
• MIFARE®* Standard 1K contactless electronic cards.
• Smart tokens (with the printing of a receipt).
• Pre-printed thermal paper tickets with the recognition system.

The Project’s Features:

• Minimum possible time-to-market: from 20.08.2011 till 30.10.2011.
• Two types of turnstiles: tripods and gates for disabled passengers.
• Temperature range from -30° C to +45° C.

Automatic Fare Collection System at Suburban Train Stations in Lvov, Ukraine

LOT Group installed equipment of its own manufacture at three suburban trains’ platforms, including:

• The operator’s room at the platform – 3.
• Tripod turnstiles – 12.
• Gates for passengers with disabilities – 3.
• Data collection and control units for turnstiles – 15.
• Station servers – 3.
• The operator’s workstation at the platform – 3.
• Data networks – 1.
• Central servers – 1.
• The Administrator’s workstations – 1.
• The workstations for working with financial statements – 1.

During the period of operation, the system has proven its high efficiency. As well as providing a clear view of the passenger flow, it improved the client’s economic performance and the level of customer care.

The Project’s Features:

• The ambient temperatures range is from -40° C in the winter, to +50° C in the summer.
• The system was upgraded in 2012, its electronic components were replaced with more efficient ones.

Automatic Fare Collection System at Suburban Train Stations in Odessa, Ukraine

In 2003 LOT Group equipped three platforms (#2, #3, #6). The following equipment of its own manufacture was installed:

• The operator’s room at the platform – 3;
• Tripod turnstiles – 15;
• Gates for passengers with disabilities – 3;
• Operated gates for the admission of local transport – 3;
• Data collection and control units for turnstiles – 18;
• Station servers – 3;
• The operator’s workstation at the platform – 3;
• Data networks – 1;
• Central servers – 1;
• The Administrator’s workstations – 1;
• The workstations for working with financial statements – 1.

The payment media used by the system include the MIFARE®* Standard 1K card and bar-coded tickets.

The Project’s Features:

• Installation of LOT Group’s industrial controllers as a control module.
• The hardware is applicable outdoor. The ambient temperatures range is from -35° C in the winter, to +65° C in the summer.
• Dynamic management of the passenger flow’s direction.

Implementation of the system improved economic performance by eliminating unauthorized travel and station’s operational management due to the opportunity to perform passenger count and control.

Automatic Fare Collection System at Suburban Train Stations in Sevastopol

In 2002 LOT Group equipped two entry points and installed the following equipment:

• The operator’s room at the platform – 1;
• Tripod turnstiles – 6;
• Gates for passengers with disabilities – 2;
• Data collection and control units for turnstiles – 8;
• Station servers – 1;
• Data networks – 1;
• Central servers – 1;
• The administrator’s workstations – 1;
• Workstations for working with financial statements – 1.

The payment media used are the MIFARE®* Standard 1K card and a bar-coded ticket.

The Project’s Features:

• Industrial PCs in thermally stabilized containers are used as a control module;
• The hardware is applicable outdoor. The ambient temperatures range is from -35° C in the winter, to +65° C in the summer.

Despite the trying weather conditions, maritime climate and heavy passenger flow, LOT Group’s equipment has once again proved its fine quality, robustness and reliability.

The Pilot Project of Automatic Fare Collection System for the Ground Public Transport of Tabriz, Iran

In 2015 the LOT Group company realized a pilot project of automatic fare collection system for the ground public transport of Tabriz, Iran.

As part of the project, the LOT Group company installed three Turn Port turnstiles in each Akia bus. The turnstiles are connected directly to the validators and authorize a passage into the passenger compartment only after the confirmation of travel fare payment.

The installed equipment has confirmed its flawless operation in harsh conditions of Iran: high temperatures, high level of dust and high dense of passenger flow.

Project features:

• Turnstiles are open for free exit through both doors of the bus.
• The project takes into account Muslim country demands and there are different entrances provided for men and women separately.
• Turnstiles were connected and integrated with third-party validators.

The Pilot Project of Automatic Fare Collection System for the Ground Public Transport in Dakar, Senegal

In 2013 the LOT Group company implemented a pilot automatic fare collection project in Dakar. The project was aimed to test the system in Senegal’s harsh climatic conditions (high temperatures, dust, high vibration and high humidity).

To implement the project, we installed system equipment of its own production on 40 of the customer’s buses. Each bus was equipped with the set of two validators and an on-board computer, connected to the central database. MIFARE®* Standard 1K contactless cards and MIFARE®* smart tokens are used as the payment media.

To maintain them we provided card vending machines, manual POS-terminals for top- ping up and vending and token reactivation machine. Fare payment control is carried out with the help of conductor’s manual terminal.

The Project’s Features:

• Validators are equipped with a touchscreen TFT display that allows selecting a travel area.
• The equipment is used in extremely harsh climatic conditions (+50°C, high humidity, dust and high vibration).
• The installed equipment has proven its efficiency under severe climatic conditions.

Automatic Fare Collection System for the Ground Public Transport in Kyiv, Ukraine

In October 2012 Automatic Fare Collection System was implemented for the Ground Trans- port of Kyiv. As part of the project, 116 ticket-stamping machines were installed on buses of the 6th vehicle park.

Payment of one-way fare is carried out with tickets, distributed from a driver or at special spots. The payment is confirmed by means of a stamp, date, time route and number of a vehicle indicated on the previously bought ticket.

Currently the installed equipment operates successfully on the buses in Kyiv.

The Pilot Project of Automatic Fare Collection System for the Ground Public Transport in Kyiv, Ukraine

In 2012 the LOT Group company implemented a pilot fare collection system project on two trolleybuses, including the following: installation of validators that receive cards, smart-tokens and print tickets. The validators were installed in the front and back doorways.

The implemented automatic fare collection system is designed for automatic control accounting of the fare on the ground transport. The implementation of the system allowed elimination of non-payment cases and controlling passenger flow on route.

The installed equipment has been in operation for 2 months. The equipment was de-mounted for the reasons of popular discontent.

The Pilot Project of Automatic Fare Collection System for the Ground Public Transport in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

In 2010 the LOT Group company developed and integrated a pilot project of a system, that is supposed to enable control over payment of the fare and access to the vehicle, while also being able to generate reports on the passenger flow. We developed an essential software and hardware, including the following: validators of smart-tokens and contactless cards, tripod turnstiles, designed to be installed on board of a vehicle.

Paper tickets, printed after the payment transaction, with unique details printed on them can be used for fare payment control on board of a vehicle. The payment details printed on the ticket include the time and the vehicle where the payment transaction was made.

The Project’s Features:

• Robust vandal-proof equipment, made of 2.5 mm stainless steel.
• The turnstiles are installed at all doors of a vehicle. A vehicle can be entered through the front door only, and exit is available through any other door.

The Pilot Project of Automatic Fare Collection System for Public Transport in Kharkov, Ukraine

In 2010 the LOT Group company implemented a Pilot Automatic Fare Collection Project for the ground transport. Two types of validators able to receive smart-tokens, cards and issue a ticket were installed in two trolleybuses.

The equipment reliability, vibration resistance, low temperatures and overcrowding resistance were tested as a part of the project. Also binding GPS coordinates and GPRS stability in the city were tested.

The equipment was in use during 3 months. There was no point of criticism after the implementation of the project. Due to the system, according to statistics, cases of non-payment were eliminated one obtained the opportunity to control the flow of passengers and trolleybuses timetable.