Automated fare collection system

An automated fare collection (AFC) system is the collection of components that automate the ticketing system of a public transportation network - an automated version of manual fare collection. An AFC system is usually the basis for integrated ticketing.

AFC systems often consist of the following components (the "tier" terminology is common, but not universal):

In addition to processing electronic fare media, many AFC systems have equipment on vehicles and stations that accepts cash payment in some form.

AFC systems originated with tokens or paper tickets dispensed by staff or from self-service vending machines. These have generally been replaced with magnetic stripe cards.

Since their introduction in 1997 with the Octopus card in Hong Kong, contactless smart cards have become the standard fare media in AFC systems, though many systems support multiple media types.

More recently, contactless smart cards from bank networks have been seen more frequently in AFC.

And Korea Smart Card,Co.(KSCC) has provided its AFC service overseas including New Zealand and Malaysia etc.

The success story of New Zealand case follows;

New Zealand developed “cost-effective” Smartcard based payment system for Wellington in 2008.

The uniqueness of this system is that KSCC serves as an ASP for the New targeted market, where settlement data are transferred back to the clearing center located in KSCC’s headquarters, and the settlement reports are provided 9AM following working day.

The bus solution being implemented now in Wellington and operating more than 400 buses is wholly consistent with the philosophy of quick boarding and focusing the bus driver’s attention on operating the bus safely, reliably and courteously. A state-of-the-art touch screen bus driver console handles the driver’s sign-on, dispensing of receipts to cash-paying customers and counting of riders who present paper passes or multi-ride tickets, and controlling the card validator for smartcard users.

The driver console which KSCC developed also contains the processing power for the bus’ fare payment devices that are located at both the front and rear doors. The card validators are attractive, highly visible card readers with simple displays and the ability to handle audible messages.

These take numerous forms, including:

...
Wikipedia