AFC (Automated Fare Collection)

AFC (Automated Fare Collection)

Automated Fare Collection (AFC) is the name given to any system that enables electronic payment for public transport like trains, buses and metros. Many different e-ticketing solutions for public transport are being considered, rolled out or in active use globally.

•  AFC and Information Technology

AFC is one of the transport related technologies that go under the name of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). ITS basically involves the addition of information and communication technologies to transport infrastructure, in order to increase throughput and safety.

• AFC and Payment

Over the last few years, the fields of AFC and EMV seem to be merging, with major pilots taking place for payment in public transport by means of a contactless credit card or by means of an NFC-enabled phone.

•  Advantages

Automated fare collection systems are one of the city-building systems. The introduction of AFCS provides essential social and economic benefits.

• City administration has a tool for the objective control and accounting of the work of public transport. This in turn allows for improvements in the quality of service to passengers, to improve the system of financing transport agencies and to provide high quality expense forecasts for the public transport budget.
• Transport agencies can improve fare collections, can account for the actual effect on revenue of concessional tickets, and have an on-line tool for the control of rolling stock.
• Passengers get a better public transport service, new rolling stock, and a wide spectrum of tickets that can provide economies on the purchase of tickets.

•  Advantages For Passengers

• New, comfortable vehicle

Implementation of AFCS allows transport operators to buy new, comfortable vehicle.

• Regular schedules

AFC makes it possible to monitor the work of transport on routes, thus allowing on-time route scheduling.

• Reduced bus crowding

AFC analysis of passenger traffic allows optimization of the capacity of vehicle on a route by redeployment of existing vehicle during peak hours. This makes passenger transportation more comfortable.

• Fast delivery of residents in remote districts to metro stations

The introduction of shortened and express routes to metro stations can halve the journey time.

• Orderly boarding

Streamlining stops and ensuring compliance with the rules of boarding facilitates orderly access to the passenger compartment.

• Safe boarding of passengers

Improvement in the organization of traffic ensures better circulation for public transport and the extension of stop points.

• Convenient ticket purchase

314 new ticket kiosks, 8 mobile ticketing points

• Fare savingsImplementation of AFC makes it possible to provide discounts for tickets of 5, 10 or 20 trips.
  
  
   

• Advantages for transport operators

Changeover to Automated Fare Collection (AFC) System
 gives public transport operators the following advantages:

• Increased fare collection

The increase is due to the following factors:

• Every passenger without a concession pays a fare
• Even those passengers who use fake concession cards begin to pay

• Substantiation of revenue owed from the municipal budget

Information obtained through AFC can change the funding mechanism for the transport industry - payments from the municipal budget are based on actual data rather than estimates of the number of passengers transported.

• Upgraded passenger-service culture

Organization of fast delivery of passengers to metro stations, improvement of traffic schedules that reflect real passenger numbers will increase the service culture and as a result the loyalty of passengers to the transport operators.

• Rational management of vehicle fleet

Redeployment of existing vehicle in line with accurate data on passenger traffic optimizes the use of the vehicle fleet of the transport operator.

• Objective management of transport on routes

Detailed information from AFC about each stop on a route and the number of passengers by time of day makes it possible to manage the work of vehicle on a route, and thereby strengthen the labor discipline of drivers and to ensure regular traffic.