By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Aug 7 (PNA) — Out with the old, in with the new—Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) stations will also start implementing the new beep card ticketing system starting this weekend (Aug 8).
This comes after the successful pilot test of the new ticketing system at the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) last month. All LRT-2 stations are currently selling beep cards.
According to the LRT Authority (LRTA), LRT-1 stations, while on its pilot phase, will be selling coupons or paper tickets set to eventually replace stations’ magnetic cards.
These coupons will have security features and will be color-coded to avoid being mixed up with other tickets.
With these setup, passengers are expected to pass through service gates and show the coupons to security guards for inspection and collection.
LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera meanwhile assured holders of the magnetic card, specifically stored value card to avail of a cash refund from Aug 8 to Aug 15.
The beep card ticketing system also known as the tap-and-go system or the Contactless Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) is the DOTC’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project under the Aquino administration.
Management has meanwhile encouraged the passengers using the new beep cards to give feedback, comments and suggestions to help the agency improve the rail system’s services. (PNA)