Florida Transit Agency to Link Concessionary Discounts to Open-Loop Payments
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Florida plans to enable eligible riders to receive their concessionary discounts when using open-loop payments, one of the few transit agencies anywhere to do so, Mobility Payments has learned.
The authority, PSTA, which launched open-loop payments last February along with two neighboring agencies, plans to enable customers who tap contactless credit and debit cards–and also NFC payments
Special Report–France: Strong Growth in Open Loop, but Mainly for Occasional Riders; Paris Still Missing in Action
Nearly 50 cities or regions have adopted open-loop payments in France or are scheduled to launch within the next year (see table on this page), with more in the pipeline.
It may be premature, however, to call France an open-loop hotspot like the UK and some other countries. The vast majority of French transit authorities that support open loop restrict the service to single rides.
Special Report: NEORide Group in U.S. to Rehire Masabi for Fare System; Did Other Vendors have a Chance?
UK-based Masabi has held onto an important ticketing contract in the financially squeezed software-as-a-service market–a project that at least some rivals contended that they had little chance of winning, Mobility Payments has learned.
A selection committee for Ohio-based NEORide, a council of governments body that coordinates mobile ticketing for more than 15 transit agencies across multiple U.S. states, chose Masabi for its procurement.
Hong Kong’s Metro Operator to Launch Open-Loop Payments Before End of 2023
The operator of the large Hong Kong metro system announced it will launch open-loop payments Dec. 23, initially restricting card and mobile wallet acceptance to Visa-branded cards under an apparent exclusivity and marketing deal with the payments scheme.
Paris Transport Officials Announce New Ticketing Options for Olympics; Will They be Sufficient?
The recent announcement by French transport officials of their special fare passes and other ticketing measures for next year’s Olympics in Paris will likely make few people happy.
Incumbent Supplier Accenture Believed to have Won Toronto Contracts, Despite Efforts by Agency to Find New Vendors
Transit officials in Toronto are believed to have chosen to rehire their incumbent fare-system provider–IT services firm Accenture–to supply a new account-based system, sources told Mobility Payments.
Hitachi Cleared to Buy Thales Transportation Unit, including Fare-Collection Business
Japanese conglomerate Hitachi this week cleared the final regulatory hurdle for its rail subsidiary to go forward with plans for a €1.7 billion (US$1.8 billion) acquisition of France-based Thales Ground Transportation Systems. GTS includes the Thales fare-system supplier business.
But Hitachi has said little so far about what it plans to do with the fare-system business, outside of vague references to helping Hitachi with its mobility-as-a-service, or MaaS, offer.
Cubic Hires New ‘Chief Growth Officer;’ Replaces Head of Business Development
Cubic Transportation Systems has hired a new “chief growth officer,” who will oversee business development, strategy and marketing, as the struggling fare-system supplier seeks to win more new contracts and hold onto its existing business, Mobility Payments has learned.
The move, which is expected to happen Monday, will shift longtime Cubic senior vice president of business development Ian Woodroofe out of this role.
New Cubic President Fires Former Top Engineer Considered Protégé of Ex-President
Peter Torrellas, who officially took over as president of Cubic Transportation Systems last week, has made what is believed to be his first major personnel move, dismissing the former senior vice president of engineering and products Galen Chui, Mobility Payments has learned.
Torrellas announced Chui’s departure today to Cubic employees (see message on this page). Chui, who will leave the company Nov. 10, has served in a lesser post, as general manager of the Asia-Pacific
Torrellas Takes Over as President of Cubic Transportation Systems; Can He Get Vendor Back on Track?
Peter Torrellas this week officially took over as president of Cubic Transportation Systems, the largest fare-system supplier globally, but one that is facing major challenges in the market.
Torrellas replaces Jeffrey Lowinger, whose more than three-year tenure as head of Cubic Corp.’s transportation division was marked by the acquisition of the company by private equity, employee