RET and Thales sign a contract for the Public Transport Chip card system on the Hoekse Line
Rotterdam, 29 March 2016. Today, the RET and Thales Transportation Systems signed a contract for the implementation and maintenance of the Public Transport chip card equipment for the metro line Hoekse Line after following a European tender procedure. The contract is worth around 7.5 million Euros.
The Hoekse Line is the route between Schiedam and the Hook of Holland and is, at the moment, being converted from a normal train line to a modern metro line. Thales is to design, develop and install the Public Transport chip card system for the line that is being converted. In practice we are talking about 89 portals, 20 automatic card handlers and 16 check in and check out devices. In addition, a new Management and Control System (MCS) will be delivered so that the installed equipment can be remotely monitored and managed 24/7. Three years maintenance is included in the contract.
Thales Transportation Systems, Managing director Jean-Philippe de Rek: ‘’We are extremely proud and happy that with so many players we have been able to show that we understand the puzzle and can also coordinate it. In the discussion phase especially we earned points by showing we understood each other’s expectations and that we worked together as a partner. The project begins on the 1st of next month and will be competed and handed over in August 2017.’’
Ready for the future
All equipment for the Hoekse Line has hardware that is ready for the new methods of payment. Contact-free payment with a bank pass (EMV) is supported and preparation is being made for entry with a barcode or with a mobile telephone (NFC).
Closing off the metro stations
When preparing the proposal, RET chose to close off the stations with portals. Pedro Peters, general manager of RET: ‘’The safety of the traveller is our priority. Recent research by OV Pro has shown that since portals have been introduced the number of fare dodgers has diminished appreciably. We often see that aggression on public transport is related to fare dodging”.