As transit agencies around the world search for new ways to combat fare evasion, Cubic Transportation Systems (Cubic) is looking to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) to help them.

Unveiled in London at the Transport Ticketing Global 2025 event, the FEnX fare gate system looks to implement GenAI to protect revenue, increase security, and increase accessibility for transit networks worldwide.

Developing FEnX

Cubic’s FEnX has been in development for 18 months and draws upon the company’s previous efforts to make a new fare gate system.

“It utilizes technologies that Cubic has been researching for close to a decade, like Ultra-wide Band (UWB) hands-free technology and the use of Artificial Intelligence for transit challenges, as well as social science research like nudging and behavior incentives,” Ellory Monks, chief ventures officer, Cubic Transportation Systems, told METRO. “FEnX also builds on extensive Cubic product deployments in other fields, such as advanced computer vision technology for detection of pedestrians in traffic intersections. Importantly, FEnX development has also drawn upon several decades of experience designing, building and maintaining fare gates in transit systems around the world.”

By implementing an iterative design approach, Cubic has been able to produce a series of FEnX prototypes and run them through dedicated testing. Doing so allowed the development of a safe, effective, and high-quality product faster than normally seen in the industry.

“In addition, FEnX is tested for compliance with accessibility (i.e. ADA) and regional fire/safety requirements,” said Monks. “Above standard testing and certifications, Cubic has commissioned additional testing that is underway: a dedicated accessibility study of the fare gate and mean cycle times between failures. This is a reliability metric to understand how frequently critical parts of the fare gate need repaired or replaced, given how many people pass through the gate every day, month and year.”

Using AI to Detect Fare Evasion

Fare evasion costs transit agencies billions annually, requiring effective enforcement without disrupting passenger flow to be implemented. By leveraging computer vision with intelligent sensor fusion, GenAI, and machine learning, FEnX can detect fare evasion in real-time while ensuring seamless entry.

FEnX gates can accurately detect, record, and flag fare evasion as it is happening and distinguish between different types of fare evasion. The system can also recognize legitimate scenarios, like a mother holding her child’s hand versus someone evading fares.

Cubic’s computer vision software, FLARE (Fare Loss Avoidance Reporting Engine), powers FEnX. It allows the gates to analyze fare evasion incidents and generate detailed, real-time reports for operations and enforcement personnel.

FLARE provides transit authorities with actionable insights, helping them pinpoint fare evasion hotspots, guide enforcement strategies, optimize station operations, and create a more secure environment for riders.

“The behaviors of offenders can evolve quickly, and so does FEnX and its AI detection engine FLARE,” said Monks. “We can incorporate new types of fare evasion in a matter of just weeks — that's the one of the strongest value propositions of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The more data you feed, the smarter the algorithms get. Our system incorporates a fully streamlined training pipeline for new scenarios or behaviors. Once trained, it will react to these in real-time and add them to the on-going analytics and insights.”

FLARE also ensures strict privacy protection by utilizing computer vision technology and GenAI to classify objects and detect fare evasion. It cannot capture or disclose any personally identifiable information or biometric data.

Other Features of FEnX

The FLARE system allows FEnX technology to be quickly retrofitted onto existing gate systems and even deployed in gateless systems.

FEnX can also be integrated with tap-to-exit programs thanks to its modular architecture. The system also supports multiple types of fare media, including open and closed-loop contactless media, bar codes, magstripe, and mobile payment. 

Hands-free validation technology, such as UWB, can also be integrated into the FEnX architecture.

Accessibility is a key priority for modern transit systems, and FEnX helps achieve this by providing smoother entry and payment experiences and recognizing a wide range of passenger needs.

With ultra-wideband hands-free technology, the gate enables touch-free access, making it easier for riders carrying luggage, parents with strollers, and passengers with disabilities to move effortlessly through stations. It can also recognize when a passenger needs extra time, keeping the gate open and reducing false positives that could disrupt travel.

FEnX also features:

• Remote monitoring and customizable configuration capabilities, enabling operators to update settings, sounds, and messaging in real-time without deploying software changes.

• API-forward architecture, ensuring seamless third-party integrations, including integrated advertising displays that can open new revenue opportunities for agencies.

• 100% commercially available parts, providing cost-effective maintenance and long-term reliability.

• A lightweight, compact design maximizing station space and allowing for additional aisles, increasing passenger throughput and reducing congestion during peak hours and major events.

Cubic officials said they will soon announce the first client orders of FEnX fare gates along with major markets preparing to test the new gate system.