LRT’s common ticketing scheme implementation delayed, says contractor

LRT Train (Invest Philippines)

MANILA — The contractor of the anticipated Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) common ticketing scheme, AF Payments Inc., said on Monday that it has delayed the scheme’s implementation since testing is still in progress.

In a statement, the company, which is a joint venture between Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, explained that the delay is necessary to strengthen the new system’s operational readiness.

“While AF Payments Inc. is keen on introducing the modern ticketing system that will improve the traveling experience of commuters of the LRT and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), it is taking all necessary measures in addressing technical issues to ensure full system acceptance and customer satisfaction,” the company said.

“We will determine and announce when the new system will go live at LRT 2 after conducting satisfactory testing, inspection and validation,” it added.

No implementation date has been given as of posting time.

The company, meanwhile, sought for continued patience and understanding from train commuters and assured that it will remain committed to the deployment of a unified rail ticketing system in the country.

To recall, the common ticketing system for the LRT-2 was set to be implemented this month. It was supposed to be followed by the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) in June and then LRT-1 in July.

Also known as the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), this upgrade is expected to lessen queuing time and will allow for seamless transfer between each line.

The AFCS is only one of the major upgrades set to be implemented for the year. Repairs in the LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 are also set to be done within the year.