The ERG Group, in consortium with INEO and Parkéon, has announced that it will supply a smart card based automated fare collection system for the Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun (SMTC) in the region of Clermont-Ferrand. The new smart card system will be the first large urban ticketing system in France to abandon the magnetic ticket technology currently used throughout France in favour of smart card technology.
The project, which is valued at over €4 million, will begin rollout immediately and will be fully implemented in September 2006. When complete it will provide patrons with the ability to add value to their smart cards on board public transport vehicles, as well as at rail stations and other point of sale locations. The new system sets the basis for regional fare integration with the surrounding transport operators by adopting the French standards for interoperability of ticketing systems.
“We are looking forward to having the new ticketing system running. We believe it is a major piece in our global program to modernise our public transport network and to re-shape mobility patterns”, said Francois Moulin, General Secretary of SMTC. "Our choice of the ERG solution was motivated by their deep understanding of our needs and the reliability of their experience in conducting such projects.”
ERG, a world leader in smart card fare collection systems, will provide smart card validators, point of sale terminals, handheld card readers used for proof of payment on trams and 50,000 smart cards as well as the software supporting the system. Automatic vending machines supplied by Parkéon will be integrated into the ticketing system, which itself will be interfaced with an Automatic Vehicle Locator System supplied by INEO.
“We’re extremely pleased to be providing this system for Clermont-Ferrand”, stated David D Stone, ERG’s Global Head of Business Development. “ERG’s experience in delivering quality smart card systems compatible with all major hardware vendors was key to our winning this contract.”
ERG has delivered systems that support more than 22 million smart cards in circulation in major cities throughout the world including Hong Kong, Rome, San Francisco and Singapore with installations underway in Sydney, Gothenburg, Washington DC and Seattle.
Background information
ERG Group
The ERG Group is a world leader in the development and supply of integrated fare management and software systems for the transit industry, and for its smart card systems and services. The Group has installed systems in major cities throughout the world including Hong Kong, Melbourne, Rome, San Francisco and Singapore with installations in progress in Gothenburg, Seattle, Stockholm, Sydney and Washington DC. ERG has delivered systems that support more than 22 million smart cards in circulation and handle approximately 5 billion transactions per annum. ERG is an Australian-based company, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and employs 900 people in 11 countries
