NETWORKING CUTS FRAUD AND MAINTNANCE COSTS

This article reviews the networked management of fare collection on US passenger rail services, and presents the case for installing it. Problems include: (1) passenger fare abuse and ride stealing; (2) ticket counterfeiting and ticket skimming; (3) employee theft of funds and fare media; (4) security for fare collection equipment; (5) monitoring the operational status of equipment; and (6) efficient and cost-effective acceptance of electronic payments. Several operators have recently attempted to introduce electronic scrunity of some of these areas, with increasing success. A networked system collects, stores, and reports sales and operational data from connected fare collection equipment into a central network computer. Its many advantages include: (1) real-time monitoring of equipment; (2) increased auditing ability; (3) intelligent scheduling of maintenance and revenue service; (4) enabling of electronic payments; and (5) control of fraud. On-line fare collection must be installed across the network. Light rail is an excellent area for applying the networked management of fare collection.The networked fare collection systems of the Maryland Mass Transit Administration (MTA) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) are described.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03735346
• Corporate Authors:

  Reed Business Information, Limited

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Brighton Road
  Sutton, Surrey  United Kingdom  SM2 5AS
• Authors:
  • WATERS, B
• Publication Date: 1995-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 439,441-2
• Serial:
  • Railway Gazette International
  • Volume: 151
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: DVV Media Group
  • ISSN: 0373-5346
  • Serial URL: http://www.railwaygazette.com/about-us.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Automatic control; Automation; Continuous structures; Digital computers; Electronics; Equipment; Networks; Payment; Public transit; Surveillance; Tariffs; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transportation networks
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 3882: Automatic; 9006: Continuous; 8673: Digital computer; 6965: Electronics; 3674: Equipment; 1054: Network (traffic); 272: Payment; 744: Public transport; 9101: Surveillance; 241: Tariff; 313: Urban area; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00716002
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jan 31 1996 12:00AM