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Cubic Announces Validator Order For London Buses` ``Articulated`` Fleet; Cashless Fare Payment Via ``Oyster`` Smart Card Speeds Passenger Boarding


BIRMINGHAM, U.K., Sep 23, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cubic Transportation Systems
Limited, the UK European Headquarters and a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic
Corp. (AMEX: CUB), today announced it has received an order from the London Buses
division of Transport for London to supply 600 Universal Smart Card Validators
for its expanding fleet of articulated or "bendy" buses.

The Validators will process the new Oyster card that was launched for public use
in May. Cubic and EDS (Electronic Data Systems) lead the TranSys consortium that
developed London`s new smart card-based ticketing system.

Cubic announced the new order on the opening day of the Coach & Bus Show 2003 at
the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, U.K., where Cubic is showcasing
its complete system of automatic fare collection technologies for buses.

The Universal Validator incorporates Cubic`s advanced smart card technology and
passenger safety features to quickly verify and deduct fares from passenger
smart cards, resulting in faster boarding times. The Validator operates on
Cubic`s open architecture and utilizes its patented Tri-Reader(R), an integral
module in Cubic-developed fare collection equipment for all transportation
modes. The Tri-Reader can read any type of contactless smart card meeting
international standards, providing operators a truly open system with
flexibility, interoperability and a range of media choices.

The articulated bus design -- which consists of two vehicle sections connected
by an accordion-like joint to facilitate turning -- offers greater seating
capacity and more entries for boarding. Cubic will install two Validators in the
middle and rear entrances of the buses to supplement the validation unit already
installed at the front of the bus, thus speeding passenger boarding.

The UK Ministry of Transport has approved the articulated bus type and the
proposed positioning of the new Validators. The Ministry must separately approve
any equipment that interfaces into walkways on other bus chassis types.

The Cubic display area at Coach and Bus 2003 (in Hall 17, Stand 17.99) includes
the following products that have been developed to meet UK and European
requirements:



-- Mobile Ticketing Machine: Considered the heart of an

integrated Vehicle Management System, the Mobile Ticketing

Machine combines the Cubic Driver Control Unit and Passenger

Interface Module to deliver fare and vehicle management in a

single device. The Driver Control Unit acts as the single

driver log-on and interface for operation of all on-vehicle

equipment including fareboxes, smart card validators, magnetic

processors, printers, passenger signage, automatic passenger

counters, and automatic vehicle location and dispatch system.

When combined with the Passenger Interface Module, transit

operators can support a variety of fare media including paper

proof-of-payment, magnetic, or contactless smart card,

offering them the maximum flexibility for future growth.



-- Light Validator: The contactless smart card-processing Light

Validator is a worry-free, low-cost addition to any automatic

fare collection system. It features a small, ultra-compact

design that simplifies installation and maintenance while

ensuring high reliability and ease of use.



-- Universal Validator: This Validator, the same as is being

fitted to London`s Articulated Buses, will be linked to a

simulation of a journey showing live ticket on departure

capability and tracking of ticket use via the web services

package of Nextfare(TM)



-- Nextfare(TM) Central System: Cubic has designed a central

system that facilitates low risk, cost-managed growth in

system capability. Nextfare is a suite of advanced software

modules that provide four mission-critical capabilities: 1)

central computing, 2) management of advanced fare structures,

3) clearing and settlement, and 4) innovative valued-added

capabilities such as Web Services, Autoload and Ticket On

Departure. Cubic`s Nextfare Web Services technology allows

riders to load their smart cards with value anytime from the

convenience of their desktop computers, laptops, phones or

handheld devices. The Ticket On Departure feature then

distributes the purchases by electronically delivering the

value to the smart card the next time the customer presents

his or her card to a reader at the ticket vending machine,

gate or bus Validator. Autoload technology lets transit users

link their smart cards to their credit cards for automatic

reload of transit value into the system once a pre-determined

threshold is reached.



-- Handheld Solutions: Cubic`s Handheld Ticketing Machine and

Handheld Checker are two smart card verification/inspection

devices that deliver the flexibility of a portable computer.

The Handheld Ticketing Machine performs two functions: issuing

paper tickets and validating and updating passenger smart

cards. Wireless communications enable an optional belt printer

to communicate with the Handheld Ticketing Machine. The

Handheld Checker reads smart cards to check for validity. Both

handheld devices are integrated with Cubic`s Tri-Reader

technology to facilitate flexibility in smart card choices for

transit operators.

Cubic Transportation Systems is the world`s leading system provider for regional
multi-operator intermodal ticketing systems. Every year, nearly 10 billion rides
are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collection systems in more than 40 major
markets on five continents, including London; New York; Washington, D.C.;
Baltimore; Sydney; Sweden, Norway, and Denmark; Rotterdam; Chicago; Atlanta; San
Francisco; Los Angeles; Miami; Hong Kong; Guangzhou; Shanghai; and Singapore.
For more information about Cubic, see the company` web site at www.cubic.com.
 
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Autor (Datum des Eintrages): frank55  (23.09.03 18:04:12)
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