Cubic awarded $21.8 million contract for smart card fare collection system in southern Sweden
10 March, 2005
category: Contactless, Transit
Cubic Transportation Systems has received a $21.8 million contract from a Swedish transport operator for a smart card-based fare collection system to connect bus and rail services in Skane, southern Sweden’s largest country.
SAN DIEGO – Cubic Transportation Systems Limited, a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation, has received a contract valued at approximately US$21.8 million from Swedish transport operator Skanetrafiken for the design, delivery and implementation of the “Resekortet” smart card-based fare collection system. The new multi-modal system will connect bus and rail services in Skane, the largest county in southern Sweden. Cubic Nordic, a division of Cubic Transportation Systems, Ltd., will handle all aspects of the contract.
This contract is the latest element in Cubic’s presence and commitment to the Scandinavian transit industry. Cubic acquired the Danish company ScanPoint in 1994 and renamed it Cubic Nordic. ScanPoint had long been a major supplier of automatic fare collection systems in Scandinavia. Cubic has strengthened Cubic Nordic, and is committed to supporting the Scandinavian industry.
In fact, this contract replaces Skanetrafiken’s existing ScanPoint-supplied, magnetics-based fare collection system for the transport operator’s 56 rail stations and 950 buses.
The new system will provide South Sweden’s rail and bus commuters with greater convenience by speeding up boarding times and allowing them the option of using the Internet to automatically reload value onto their smart cards. It also will reduce the risk of fraud and keep distractions to a minimum for the bus drivers and train conductors, freeing them to focus on fast, safe, on-time service to the travelers.
The new system will consist of operating software, communications, driver control units and validators for buses; and ticket vending machines, station validators and handheld devices for rail. Cubic will also supply and install its Nextfare(TM) Central System for Skanetrafiken’s back office computing system. The contract also includes an option for customer services and maintenance.
Cubic’s open architecture system design allows the other transport operators in southern Sweden to join the “Resekortet” smart card-based system now or in the future. The five other counties in Southern Sweden: Blekingetrafiken, Lanstrafiken Kronoberg, Hallandstrafiken, Jonkoping Lanstrafik and Kalmar Lantrafik, have indicated their intent to sign on to be part of a regional system.
As an added bonus, the new ticketing system will also be compatible with Denmark’s national TravelCard system. The use of common design and engineering standards in developing smart card-based ticketing systems is a growing phenomenon, as it provides a common platform for fare collection among multiple transport operators for large geographic regions, such as Scandinavia.
“Resekortet is the most crucial and important public transport ticketing project in Southern Sweden in many years,” said Claus Klitholm, managing director of Cubic Nordic. “It will also provide a link between Sweden’s and Denmark’s new, contactless, smart card-based systems, which will add even greater convenience for commuters who travel on both sides of the border. Our experience in developing and operating a complex system, such as the PRESTIGE/Oyster Card project for London Transport, proves we can meet the requirements and challenges facing transport operators today.”
The “Resekortet” system for Skane is scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2006.
Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. is the world’s leading full-service solution provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport, including bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, ferry and parking. Cubic’s solutions and services include system design, central computer systems, equipment design and manufacturing, device-level software, integration, test, installation, warranty, maintenance, computer hosting services, call center services, card management and distribution services, financial clearing and settlement, multi-application support and outsourcing services. Cubic Nordic is headquartered in Glostrup, Denmark, with four customer service centers in Sweden, one in Norway and one in Denmark.
Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collection systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Current projects include Scandinavia, London, New York/New Jersey region, Washington, D.C./Baltimore/Virginia region, Los Angeles region, San Diego region, San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, South Florida, Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada, Brisbane, Australia, Italy, Singapore and Thailand.
The company’s other major business segment, Cubic Defense Applications, is a world leader in realistic combat training systems, mission support services and defense electronics. Cubic has approximately 5,950 employees worldwide. For more information about Cubic, see the company’s Web site at www.cubic.com.
