ERG Announces Award to Install Clermont-Ferrand Smart Card System

The project, which is valued at over €4 million, will begin rollout immediately and will be fully implemented in September 2006. When complete it will provide patrons with the ability to add value to their smart cards on board public transport vehicles, as well as at rail stations and other point of sale locations. The new system sets the basis for regional fare integration with the surrounding transport operators by adopting the French standards for interoperability of ticketing systems.

“We are looking forward to having the new ticketing system running. We believe it is a major piece in our global program to modernise our public transport network and to re-shape mobility patterns”, said Francois Moulin, General Secretary of SMTC. "Our choice of the ERG solution was motivated by their deep understanding of our needs and the reliability of their experience in conducting such projects.”

ERG, a world leader in smart card fare collection systems, will provide smart card validators, point of sale terminals, handheld card readers used for proof of payment on trams and 50,000 smart cards as well as the software supporting the system. Automatic vending machines supplied by Parkéon will be integrated into the ticketing system, which itself will be interfaced with an Automatic Vehicle Locator System supplied by INEO.

“We’re extremely pleased to be providing this system for Clermont-Ferrand”, stated David D Stone, ERG’s Global Head of Business Development. “ERG’s experience in delivering quality smart card systems compatible with all major hardware vendors was key to our winning this contract.”

ERG has delivered systems that support more than 22 million smart cards in circulation in major cities throughout the world including Hong Kong, Rome, San Francisco and Singapore with installations underway in Sydney, Gothenburg, Washington DC and Seattle.