Roll out of LRT tap and go payment scheme deferred
The early roll out of the automated fare collection system (AFCS) for the mass train systems scheduled this month has been deferred to address the remaining technical issues on the tap and go payment scheme.
AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) chief executive officer Peter Maher said the early commissioning of tap and go system at the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) scheduled this month would be pushed back as the end-to-end testing remains in progress at all stations.
“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,” Maher said.
Maher pointed out that the company 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,” he said.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) awarded the P1.72-billion public private partnership (PPP) project to the AFCS Consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
The consortium is composed of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., BPI Card Finance Corp., and Globe Telecoms Inc. for the Ayala Group, as well as Meralco Financial Services Corp. and Smart Communications Inc. for the MPIC Group.
A joint venture company Automated Fare Collection Services Inc. (AFCSI) was formed in February 2014 to undertake the PPP project. It was renamed AFPI in March this year
The system that is scheduled to be operational by September this year aims to upgrade the LRT lines 1 and 2, and Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) ticketing systems by substantially speeding up payments, reducing queuing time and facilitating efficient passenger transfer to other rail lines. The system using the AF Payments beepTM card would also cover the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
The company is supplying and installing a total of 731 gates, 138 ticket vending machines, 221 point of sale devices, and 44 station computers across the three rail lines.
“AF Payments is excited to bring the technology of a new and integrated ticketing system for LRT and MRT and have our rail commuters realize its real benefits. We are moving forward aggressively with the project that aims to improve the passenger travel experience of Filipinos who ride these lines,” Maher said.