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
INIT Wins Contract to Supply New Fare System in Atlanta, Beating Out Incumbent Cubic
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA, board of directors is expected to award a contract Thursday for its planned fare system to Germany-based INIT, which beat out incumbent supplier Cubic Transportation Systems for the deal, Mobility Payments has learned.
With Less Than a Year to Go Before Olympics, will Paris Transit Authority be Ready with Ticketing?
Paris regional transit authority Île-de-France Mobilités, or IDFM, has promised to enable “100% of spectators to reach Olympic and Paralympic sites by public transport” next summer during the games.
The authority, an official Olympics and Paralympics partner, has pledged to increase capacity on its transport network by 15% to handle the expected spike in ridership.
Philadelphia Launches Much-Delayed Open-Loop Service, as It Procures New Fare System
Philadelphia transit authority SEPTA launched its long-delayed open-loop payments service Friday under its existing contract with fare-system supplier Conduent, even as the authority pursues the procurement of a new fare system that could end up replacing the vendor.
SEPTA, or Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, launched open-loop on its buses, subway and trolleys, with commuter rail planned for early next year. All modes together will “include” use of 4,200 terminals that Conduent supplied, a SEPTA spokesman confirmed Friday to Mobility Payments.
San Diego Transit Agency to Target Infrequent Riders with Open-Loop Payments–at Least at First
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, or MTS, and a smaller affiliated transit agency are planning to introduce open-loop payments in April–deep in the heart of car-centric Southern California.
The open-loop rollout is part of an account-based fare system, which MTS and its main vendor, Germany-based INIT, began rolling out a little less than five years ago.
Taipei Finally Agrees to Support Open-Loop Payments, though Service Could be Tough Sell to Regular Riders
The Taipei Metro, a major transit operator in Asia, plans to launch open-loop payments around 2025, Mobility Payments has learned. Taipei has been one of a dwindling number of the large cities that have resisted adopting the fare-payments technology.
Scottish Bus Operator Sees High Adoption for Open Loop, though Rate Doesn’t Include Generous Concessions
Transport for London isn’t the only transit agency in the UK seeing high adoption rates for open-loop fare payments. Among the others is Scottish bus operator Lothian Buses, which said its contactless penetration is nearing 60%.
But like Transport for London, which has touted 60%-plus open-loop adoption rates, Lothian’s high share of rides paid for with credit and debit cards and NFC wallets comes with a caveat.