Blog - Trainsfare

December 4, 2018

Annual pass reduces ticketless passengers in Prague
The ticket fine reprieve Nejedeš načerno? turns 4500 fare-dodgers into annual public transport pass holders

Last October, Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) implemented an innovative ticket fine reprieve called “Nejedeš načerno?”(Not black riding, are you?). When caught travelling without a valid ticket, fare-dodgers can reduce the fine by half by buying an annual public transport pass. Since then, more than 4,500 people have turned from ticketless passengers to annual...

November 27, 2018

Check out gates at Brussels metro
Passengers will have to validate their tickets twice: when entering and when exiting

Passengers at Brussels Metro must now validate their ticket to exit stations, like in the premetro. The operator STIB-MIVB is gradually rolling out check out gates throughout the network. Since last week, there are doors at Joséphine-Charlotte et Gribaumont stations in line 1. The operator will equip 15 metro stations by the end of...

November 20, 2018

SNCF intensifies its anti-fraud strategy
The French operator will deploy mobile teams of 2 to 8 agents at trains and stations in Occitanie to reduce its 11% fare evasion rate

Fare evasion rate in SNCF Occitanie trains is 11%. This amounts to an annual loss of 8 million euros, equivalent to a TER of last generation. In order to tackle this issue, the French operator will reinforce its anti-fraud strategy. Starting December 9th, SNCF will set up a new customer service organization at stations...

November 12, 2018

Metal detectors and X-ray scanners at Singapore metro stations
Transport agency LTA will trial them from November 2018 to May 2019

David Leo Veksler

Singapore wants to increase security in public transport with metal detectors and x-ray scanners. The transport entity Land Transport Authority (LTA) has started a six-month trial for enhanced security screening at random Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations. This test can involve up to 6 stations at any given time until May 2019 Some commuters...

November 6, 2018

Wristbands, a new way to pay for public transport
Vancouver’s transport agency TransLink trials alternatives to Compass Cards

TransLink tests wristbands as an alternative to Compass cards

TransLink https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUQ7a-u0YJ8

Vancouver’s transport agency TransLink keeps innovating in ticketing options. After deploying the Compass Card fare system two years ago and introducing a Tap-to-Pay system earlier this year, TransLink is testing wristbands an alternative form of paying. “We are always looking for new ways to improve customer experience” they state. Wristbands would work as the...

October 30, 2018

TransMilenio punishes fare dodgers with cleaning duties
The transport operator in Bogotá loses 477,000 million pesos annually due to fare evasion

More than 600.000 people fare evade every day at TransMilenio, the metropolitan transport system in Bogotá. In order to reduce the amount of people using the public transport without paying, TransMilenio is deploying new pedagogical actions. The latest was punishing fare dodgers with cleaning the floors of stations. They also had to write slogans...

October 23, 2018

PRESTO fare card system shows “continued performance below targets”
The electronic payment system in Ontario (Canada) is costing millions and does not achieve the expected reliability rates to fully eliminate tickets, passes, tokens and cash

The electronic payment system PRESTO, which works across local transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa, has a long way to go. According to an internal Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) briefing obtained by Toronto Star newspaper, PRESTO shows “continued performance below targets”. Problems with operating transactions and card readers keep...

October 16, 2018

Fare evasion crackdown in Rome: more checks, more fines and more ticket collection
Transport operator Atac recorded a monthly record of 16,000 fines, of which almost 30% were paid within the first 5 days

Rome’s fare evasion crackdown is showing very positive results. In fact, figures are better than expected and beating records. In September, the transport agency Atac registered a monthly record of 16,000 fines. This is 30% more than forecasted. Also, up to 27.5% fines were paid within the first 5 days of issuing. The effective...

October 8, 2018

MBTA postpones fare gates deployment in commuter rail platforms
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will wait until 2021 to make it coincide with the installation of the all-electronic payment

kThe Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is postponing its plan to install new fare gates in commuter rail platforms. The reason is the all-electronic payment system scheduled for 2021. The transport agency believes it makes more sense to wait and deploy both systems at the same time. Fare gates were scheduled for early this...

October 1, 2018

Negative balances on Opal cards amount to $2.6 million loss annually
Transport for NSW considered charging a $10 fee for new cards to tackle fare evasion and to promote contactless payment

Beau Giles https://bit.ly/2ya538m

The Australian state of New South Wales is losing $2.6 million annually to fare evasion in its Opal cards system. Fare dodgers are exploiting the possibility of traveling on negative balances. They do not pay the full fair for their trips and then start new cards to avoid paying the shortfall. The Opal cards...