SA awards $30m e-ticketing contract
SA Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said that the state had awarded a $30 million contract to IT services company Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) to implement an electronic ticketing system for the state by 2013.
Patrick Conlon
(Credit: Government of
South Australia)
"Our current ticketing system has been in place for nearly 24 years — it has served us well but it is time to replace it as we continue our massive public transport revitalisation," Conlon said in a release. "We expect to see the new smart card ticketing system in operation by 2013 in time for the commencement of electric rail services in Adelaide."
ACS, a subsidiary of the Xerox corporation, would be responsible for the manufacturing, testing, installation, technical support and maintenance of the ticketing and fare collecting system, which it has called ATLAS.
The company has already supplied Adelaide with its existing Crouzet ticketing system.
"We are taking advantage of proven technology, with this system and equipment already in operation in cities overseas such as Montreal, Houston and Toulouse," the transport minister said. "Adelaide also has the advantage of an existing integrated fare and ticketing system supported by the smart card system."
Adelaide will be following Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney in adopting an e-ticketing system for its public transport.
However, Sydney's push to introduce a ticketing system has encountered issues, with the cancellation of the signed contract with vendor ITSL and the start of a new tendering process in the works.
Melbourne has just rolled out its ticketing system on trains, but has yet to implement the system on buses or trams. Perth and Brisbane have working systems.
Current Adelaide public transport tickets will remain valid after the introduction of the new system.