TAP supplies, installs and integrates the complete range of field equipment required for automated fare collection in BRT, metro and bus networks: automatic fare gates, on-board validators, ticket office machines, fare vending machines, handheld vending and inspection devices, and the station computers that manage them.
Every device is specified for the operating realities of public transport, including high passenger volumes, hot and humid climates, continuous operation and unattended locations. Each one is integrated with TAP’s Automated Fare Collection back office, so fare rules, transactions, alarms and configuration are controlled centrally across the network.
From contactless smart cards and QR tickets to NFC mobile credentials and bank-card payment at vending machines, TAP delivers the device layer of a modern, multi-media fare system.
Device Range
Six Device Families, One Fare System
TAP’s fare collection hardware covers every point at which passengers buy, load, validate and present fare media, together with the station-level computers that coordinate them.
Automatic Fare Gates
Retractable-flap gates that control entry to and exit from the paid area of a closed station.
- Entry, exit, bi-directional and wide gates
- Green/red status pictograms and passenger display
- Smart card, QR and NFC readers on the passage side
- Normal, flush and free operating modes
On-Board Validators
Vehicle-mounted validators that record fare usage at boarding and, where required, at alighting.
- Color passenger display with audio feedback
- Stop mapping using the vehicle's GNSS location
- Door-state integration with the on-board unit
- On-board Ethernet with Wi-Fi and 4G/5G fallback
Ticket Office Machines
Staffed sales terminals for ticket offices and customer service points.
- Fare media sales and stored-value top-up
- Lost-media and fare-media claim handling
- Receipt printing and operation reversal
- Link to card personalization services
Fare Vending Machines
Self-service machines for purchasing fare media and topping up stored value.
- Large, sunlight-readable touch screen
- Banknote acceptor with escrow and coin change
- EMV contact and contactless bank-card terminal
- Secure cash vaults with tamper alarms
Handheld Vending & Inspection
Portable devices for staff to sell, validate and inspect fare media anywhere on the network.
- Sales, validation and fare inspection
- Full-shift battery operation
- 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Docking stations for charging and data exchange
Station & Depot Computers
Local computers that supervise all fare devices at a station or depot.
- Device status monitoring and commanding
- Direct emergency release of fare gates
- Station-level sales and validation reports
- Buffered data exchange with the back office
Equipment Gallery
The Fare Collection Range
Equipment from TAP’s fare collection hardware range.
Automatic Fare Gate
Wide Accessible Gate
On-Board Validator
Ticket Office Machine
Fare Vending Machine
Handheld Device
Station Computer
Fare Media
Automatic Fare Gates
Gate Lines Configured for Every Station
Gate arrays form the boundary between the paid and unpaid areas of a closed station. TAP configures each gate line from four gate types, so every station handles its entry and exit flows, including passengers who need a wider passage.
Entry Gates
Permit passage into the paid area on presentation of valid fare media.
Exit Gates
Permit passage out of the paid area, with check-out validation where required.
Bi-Directional Gates
Configurable for entry, exit or both, adapting the gate line to peak flows.
Wide Accessible Gates
Wide-passage gates for wheelchair users, strollers and passengers with luggage.
Operating Modes
- Normal mode
- Flush mode for station evacuation
- Free mode on power failure
- Limited-service, energy-saving mode
Capability Matrix
What Each Device Delivers
A device-by-device view of the functions TAP’s fare collection hardware provides across the network.
| Function | Fare Gate | On-Board Validator | Ticket Office Machine | Fare Vending Machine | Handheld Device |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contactless smart card processing | |||||
| QR / 2D barcode tickets | |||||
| NFC mobile fare media | |||||
| Fare validation | |||||
| Fare inspection | |||||
| Fare media sales and top-up | |||||
| Cash handling | |||||
| Bank card and digital wallet payment | |||||
| Receipt printing | |||||
| Physical access control | |||||
| Offline operation with secure data retention |
Fare Media
Multi-Media Fare Acceptance
TAP’s fare devices are specified to accept the full range of fare media used in modern public transport, so operators can introduce new media without replacing field equipment.
Contactless Smart Cards
Readers and encoders are specified for ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B contactless smart cards, supporting stored-value, single-journey and pass products. Anti-collision handling informs the passenger when more than one card is presented, and processing is protected so that a power interruption does not corrupt card data.
QR and 2D Barcode Tickets
Optical readers on gates, validators and handhelds accept QR and other 2D barcode tickets, whether printed at a ticket office or vending machine, or displayed on a smartphone screen.
NFC Mobile Credentials
Devices accept smart-card emulation on NFC-enabled smartphones, allowing passengers to travel with a mobile credential in place of a physical card.
Bank Cards and Digital Wallets
Fare vending machines and ticket office machines accept bank-card payment through EMV-certified contact and contactless payment terminals with PIN entry, including digital wallets available in the market.
Transaction Security
Secure from the Card Reader to the Back Office
Operators configure and manage fare products and tariff structures from one central platform.
- 01
Secure Access Module
Each fare device is fitted with a SAM that protects the cryptographic keys used to authenticate fare media.
- 02
Key Management
Keys and SAMs are personalized, distributed and managed centrally under controlled procedures.
- 03
Authenticated Transaction
Every card and ticket operation is authenticated before fare value is read or written.
- 04
Secure Offline Storage
Devices continue to operate offline, holding transactions securely until the back office confirms receipt.
- 05
Back-Office Upload
Transactions, alarms and events are uploaded for settlement, monitoring and audit.
Build Specification
Engineered for Public Transport Environments
TAP specifies fare collection hardware for continuous operation in busy stations, open concourses and moving vehicles, including hot and humid conditions.
| Enclosures | Impact-, corrosion- and heat-resistant casings to stainless-steel class, with concealed screws and hinges and anti-vandal display protection |
|---|---|
| Ingress protection | Enclosure classes matched to location, up to IP65 for exposed outdoor installation and IP52 for sheltered areas |
| Card technology | ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B readers; EMV-certified readers and payment terminals |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet at stations; vehicle Ethernet (M12) on board with Wi-Fi and 4G/5G communications |
| Data integrity | Transactions retained on the device until receipt is confirmed by the back office; secure USB transfer as a fallback |
| Power and safety | Accessible master circuit breaker, full grounding, and protection against data loss on power failure |
| Accessibility | Wide accessible fare gates and vending machine designs aligned with ADA principles |
| Passenger interface | Multilingual displays, green/red pictograms and audio feedback for clear validation status |
| Remote management | Status monitoring, alarms, commanding and remote software and configuration updates from the central system |
Supporting Equipment
Everything Around the Fare Devices
We also supplies the equipment that issues, secures, maintains and tests a fare collection network.
- Handheld docking stations
- Card personalization workstations
- Smart card printers and encoders
- Receipt and QR ticket printers
- Secure Access Modules (SAM)
- AFC operator workstations
- AFC test bench
- Smart card and QR fare media stock
Why TAP
One Partner for the Entire Device Layer
Operators configure and manage fare products and tariff structures from one central platform.
Complete Range
Gates, validators, sales terminals, vending and handhelds from one supplier.
Multi-Media
Smart card, QR, NFC mobile and bank-card acceptance.
Secure
SAM-based authentication and secure offline operation.
Integrated
Every device managed by TAP's AFC back office.
Supported
Installation, testing, maintenance and spares by TAP.
Related Services
Software
Management
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