Dallas-based ACS wins contract to provide contactless ticketing system in Riga, Latvia

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. today announced it will provide a contactless ticketing system to the city of Riga, Latvia, with the municipality's wholly owned transit operator, Rigas Satiksme. No financial details were disclosed for the 13-year contract.

ACS will design and implement a smart card-based ticketing system using contactless cards and tickets for Rigas Satiksme's fleet of 460 buses, 322 trolleys, and 252 tramway cars. ACS and Rigas Satiksme will then operate the system under the city's oversight.

"The citizens of Riga will benefit from the most advanced ticketing system in Eastern Europe," said Leons Bemhens, chairman of Rigas Satiksme. "ACS' technology and business expertise will enable Riga to implement and operate a world-class system."

The new contactless system replaces the current paper-based ticketing system enabling Rigas Satiksme to issue tickets and cards, and share information throughout Riga's public transport network. Passengers will benefit from seamless travel and easy, convenient access to transportation.

"Our contactless technology is improving transport services around the world in terms of cost, reliability, security, and speed of transaction," said Eric Jean, ACS managing director of Fare Collection. "We're looking forward to working closely with Rigas Satiksme to provide a vital service in one of the most dynamic areas of Eastern Europe."

Riga joins other cities on four continents that benefit from ACS' contactless ticketing systems, including Paris, Lyon and Toulouse; Warsaw; Zurich; Houston; Montreal; and Melbourne. Major new contracts signed in 2007 for contactless ticketing systems included Jerusalem and Mexico City.

Source: ACS