SAN DIEGO, Calif.–Cubic, the designer, provider and maintainer of the PRESTIGE/Oyster smart card fare collection system for London, has completed one of the first unattended Chip and PIN terminal networks in the UK. The network of unattended units on the Underground and some Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations throughout London’s Oyster card transport system enable Transport for London’s customers to purchase travel tickets with debit or credit cards using Chip and PIN technology, without the need for a staff member to be present. The unattended payment devices have now been installed in 491 passenger operated ticket machines.

Cubic has successfully addressed a number of challenges presented by Chip and PIN enabled Unattended Payment Terminal transactions, a type of payment which did not exist when Cubic first began developing its devices and supporting software for the integrated ticketing program.

In addition to completing the unattended network, Cubic also carried out a wider program of upgrading terminals across the Transport for London network. This included installing 600 PIN Entry Devices (PEDs) on ticket office machines at all 275 ticket offices in Tube stations. The PEDs are similar to those found in any retail setting, but the specification is designed to withstand the rugged transport environment.

The hardware and software used in the development and implementation of Chip and PIN technology on the Underground and DLR stations is a combination of existing Cubic supplied devices and hardware and software provided by Dione and the Logic Group. In total, over 1000 payment terminals deployed across Underground and DLR locations have been upgraded to accept Chip and PIN. Cubic, as part of the TranSys consortium, won the contract in 1998 to develop a new integrated ticketing system called PRESTIGE, as a PFI in partnership with Transport for London. Under the TranSys umbrella, Cubic provides all assets, hardware and software. Cubic performed all design, manufacture, and installation and maintains the system, while EDS provides operational services.

Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. is the world’s leading full-service systems provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport including bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, ferry and parking. Cubic’s solutions and services include system design, back office computer systems, support equipment, equipment design and manufacturing, device-level software, integration, test, installation, warranty, maintenance, computer hosting services, call center services, card management and distribution services, financial clearing and settlement, multi-application support and outsourcing services.

Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collection systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Active projects include London, New York / New Jersey region, Washington, D.C. / Baltimore/Virginia region, Los Angeles region, San Diego region, San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Atlanta, Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada, Brisbane, Australia, Singapore, Bangkok, Thailand, China and Scandinavia.