By Lorenz S. Marasigan
DELAYS on the end-to-end evaluation of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2’s stations have stalled the commercial rollout of the new automated fare- collection system (AFCS) in the railway line.
This was learned from AF Payments Inc.’s CEO Peter Maher, who sought the understanding of train commuters on Monday with regard to the postponement of the completion of the new ticketing system.
“The ongoing testing is aimed at further strengthening the operational readiness of the new system, originally scheduled to go live at LRT 2 this May,” he said.
AF Payments is the concessionaire of the P1.72-billion ticketing deal, which aims to upgrade and integrate the ticketing infrastructure for the country’s major railways. The new system will use contactless smart- card technology, known as “beep.”
“While AF Payments Inc. is keen on introducing the modern ticketing system that will improve the traveling experience of commuters of the LRT and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), it is taking all necessary measures in addressing technical issues to ensure full system acceptance and customer satisfaction. We will determine and announce when the new system will go live at LRT 2 after conducting satisfactory testing, inspection and validation,” Maher explained.
The company, a joint venture led by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., is targeting to roll out the new product at the MRT in June, and at the LRT Line 1 by July.
The firm, under its concessionaire agreement, will supply and install a total of 731 gates, 138 ticket vending machines, 221 point-of-sale devices and 44 station computers across the three rail lines.
Upon its completion, commuters can expect faster payment processes and reduced queuing time for buying tickets, as well as seamless transfers from one rail to another. All three railway lines will fully transition to the new system by the September.