Automated Ticketing at Tehran Metro

Automated ticket machines have been set up at over 100 subway stations across Tehran in a move to upgrade subway services.

“Around 500 automated ticket machines have been installed at Tehran Metro stations to accelerate the process of ticket purchase or recharge,” said Mohammad Ahmadi Bafandeh, CEO of Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company.

“Passengers will not have to waste time standing in queues to buy or top up credit on their metro passes,” he added.

Noting that local engineers have come a step closer to producing these machines domestically, he said about 14 different types of software used in subway-related services have been indigenized so far.

The easy-to-charge machines are linked to the mobile banking system enabling passengers to charge their metro passes through their bank accounts. A person can charge the cards through the mobile banking system which facilitate transactions through an USSD code. After using the USSD code *137# to access municipal services, and providing the 10-digit serial number on the rechargeable metro card, one can successfully top up their cards by going to the add value machines (AVM) at any of the metro stations.

Additionally, they are connected to a remote monitoring and control (M&C) system.

According to Ahmadi-Bafandeh, the number of such devices installed at each metro station depends on the average number of commuters at the station on a daily basis.

There are more devices at busy junctions downtown and main intersections.

Presently there are 7,000-8,000 transactions on a daily basis, which he estimates will reach 50,000 once more devices are installed.

In a bid to facilitate subway travel across the capital, the company replaced the old magnetic tickets with QR (quick response) code tickets in September. The new system helps users purchase tickets online.

   Popular Transport

For both local commuters and foreign tourists, the Tehran Metro is the most popular means of transport in the sprawling capital now home to 12 million people.

It carries nearly four million passengers a day. Ticket price is fixed for each journey, regardless of the distance traveled, but using prepaid tickets (in the form of electronic cards) costs much less. On all Tehran metro trains the first, second and last coaches are reserved for women. Train services start at 5:30 am and run until 11 pm with one every 2-10 minutes.

At present, the subway system comprises five operational lines (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 – line 3 is not yet complete) with nearly 100 stations. Lines 6 and 7 are currently under construction.

In June, Seyyed Jafar Tashakkori Hashemi, deputy mayor of Tehran for transportation affairs, said the entire project would be completed by September 2017.