Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS), a business unit of Cubic Corp., along with a diverse team of industry and academic partners, announced a working collaboration to develop a prototype that integrates future ticketing technologies to support a doubled rate of passenger throughput at fare gates in train stations. According to travel projections, the number of journeys for passenger rail is likely to double over the next 30 years.

Cubic’s submitted proposal, titled “FasTrak Gateless Gateline,” to the Railway Standards and Safety Board’s (RSSB) “Future Ticketing Detection” competition is currently being developed at the Cubic Innovation Centre in London. Cubic is among three entrants selected earlier this year by the RSSB to receive funding from the British government to develop a prototype of the proposed solution.

Cubic is working in partnership with Go Ahead Group, Mövement Strategies, Maynard Group and Bristol Robotics Laboratory to develop a concept demonstrator based on advanced ticket detection technologies that can be integrated into a single gateless system. This detection method — which eliminates the physical barrier of the gate — has the potential to double passenger throughput.

FasTrak uses a variety of advanced technologies to seamlessly detect passenger tickets, allowing them to walk normally through fare gates without compromising the operator’s revenue protection. FasTrak will also ensure revenues are collected for their services through an enhanced and secure technology platform providing a simpler means of identifying and apprehending fare evaders.

“Based on our heritage of building and maintaining the hardware, systems and infrastructure for revenue collection, Cubic recognized the need to embrace a wide range of new technologies — some proven, some emerging — that together will transform the traveler experience,” said Roger Crow, executive VP and managing director, Cubic Transportation Systems Europe. “This project is another example of Cubic’s partner collaborations to find innovative solutions and deliver benefits for travelers and operators alike.”

RSSB created the “Future Ticket Detection” competition to explore new ideas for managing crowds in train stations, monitoring crowd density and directing crowd flow, with the goals of improving passenger safety and security, and protecting revenues for operators.