Scheidt & Bachmann Ticket XPress
Encyclopedia
The Scheidt & Bachmann Ticket XPress system is a passenger-operated, self-service railway ticket issuing system developed and manufactured by the German systems development and production group Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, based in the city of Mönchengladbach
. Since 2001, British company The Needham Group Ltd has been the sole agent and distributor within Britain for all products and services in Scheidt & Bachmann's Fare Collection Systems division. http://www.needham-group.com/cocoon/needham/fare/fare.html Since the first trial installations in 2003, seven Train Operating Companies (TOCs)
in Great Britain
have adopted the system as their main passenger-operated ticket vending method, while four others have installed machines at certain stations on their networks.
and, subsequently, public leisure facilities such as swimming pools and council-owned leisure centres.
The company's first entry into the ticket issuing and fare collection systems market came in 1978, with the technology initially being derived from the successful car park control systems before being developed further and refined.
The company is now organised into four largely autonomous divisions, corresponding to the different business areas:
Full history
, before privatisation, the main passenger-operated ticket issuing system (POTIS) on the network was the "Quickfare" B8050
, developed in the late 1980s by Swiss company Ascom Autelca AG. These machines were geared towards high-volume, low-value transactions: they only accepted cash, offered a small and mostly unchanging range of destinations, and were a minor evolution from similar earlier machines whose computer technology was based in the early 1980s. Quickfares were widespread, especially in the erstwhile Network SouthEast
area, but their limitations were increasing as technology became more sophisticated.
s during the 1990s, when the FAA-2000 system, popular on continental European railway networks, was developed. http://www.intertraffic.com/marketplace/mypage/products_detail.asp?mypageid=140&productid=1133 By the early 2000s, a refined design, marketed as FAA-2000/TS, had been launched. Its modern touch-screen
technology, flexible and easily customisable interface and ability to accept cash or card
payments made it a popular choice with transport operators in urban areas including New York City
, Cologne
, Copenhagen and Dublin. A version of this newer design, with the codename FAA-2000/TS (ATOC), was put on trial in August 2003 at Twickenham
, a South West Trains
station. In conjunction with the redesign and rebuilding of the station forecourt area, two Ticket XPress machines - numbered 2000 and 2001 - were built into a wall next to the main station entrance.
At this stage, three companies were competing for trials and, ultimately, contracts from the Train Operating Companies for their systems (the Ticket XPress, Ascom's EasyTicket system and the FASTticket from Shere); Scheidt & Bachmann was the last entrant to the self-service machine market, as Shere's FASTticket product had been installed either permanently or on trial at various locations from as far back as 1996, and an Ascom EasyTicket machine had been operating for nearly six months at one of Britain's busiest stations, Gatwick Airport
. The start of the trial at Twickenham meant that all three systems could now be compared properly, taking note of passenger reactions and feedback.
The earliest large-scale adopters of Ticket XPress machines were ScotRail
, which subsequently became First ScotRail
, and South Eastern Trains
(now Southeastern (train operating company)
). ScotRail introduced machines at Glasgow Central and Queen Street
, and Edinburgh's Waverley
and Haymarket
stations, in January and February 2004. These were followed by further machines in central Scotland, and at smaller stations on the North Berwick Line
and Edinburgh to Bathgate Line
. More were added elsewhere in 2005 http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/content/news/view-scotrail-press-release.php?id=00000000030, and the installation programme is continuing gradually as of January 2007, with a machine being placed at Stirling
and South Gyle.
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
. Since 2001, British company The Needham Group Ltd has been the sole agent and distributor within Britain for all products and services in Scheidt & Bachmann's Fare Collection Systems division. http://www.needham-group.com/cocoon/needham/fare/fare.html Since the first trial installations in 2003, seven Train Operating Companies (TOCs)
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
have adopted the system as their main passenger-operated ticket vending method, while four others have installed machines at certain stations on their networks.
The company
Scheidt & Bachmann was founded in 1872 as a manufacturer of textile machinery and small steam-driven engines for industrial use. Its earliest diversification was into railway signal control systems, which became its main area of business until 1932. At that time, the company developed and began to manufacture a new type of hand-operated petrol pump. Further diversification occurred in the 1960s, with the development of control, access and management systems for public car parksParking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
and, subsequently, public leisure facilities such as swimming pools and council-owned leisure centres.
Leisure centre
A leisure centre in the UK and Canada is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city, borough council or municipal district council, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.- Typical Facilities :...
The company's first entry into the ticket issuing and fare collection systems market came in 1978, with the technology initially being derived from the successful car park control systems before being developed further and refined.
The company is now organised into four largely autonomous divisions, corresponding to the different business areas:
- Signal Technology
- Petrol Stations
- Car Parks and Leisure Centres
- Fare Collection Systems
Full history
The situation before Ticket XPress
In the last years of British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, before privatisation, the main passenger-operated ticket issuing system (POTIS) on the network was the "Quickfare" B8050
Ascom B8050 Quickfare
Ascom B8050, usually known by the name Quickfare, is an early example of a passenger-operated railway ticket issuing system, consisting of a series of broadly identical machines installed at British railway stations from 1989 onwards...
, developed in the late 1980s by Swiss company Ascom Autelca AG. These machines were geared towards high-volume, low-value transactions: they only accepted cash, offered a small and mostly unchanging range of destinations, and were a minor evolution from similar earlier machines whose computer technology was based in the early 1980s. Quickfares were widespread, especially in the erstwhile Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
area, but their limitations were increasing as technology became more sophisticated.
Installation programme
The company had initially gained experience in the design and manufacture of self-service ticket machineTicket machine
A ticket machine, also known as a ticket vending machine , is a vending machine that produces tickets. For instance, ticket machines dispense train tickets at railway stations and tram tickets at some tram stops and in some trams...
s during the 1990s, when the FAA-2000 system, popular on continental European railway networks, was developed. http://www.intertraffic.com/marketplace/mypage/products_detail.asp?mypageid=140&productid=1133 By the early 2000s, a refined design, marketed as FAA-2000/TS, had been launched. Its modern touch-screen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
technology, flexible and easily customisable interface and ability to accept cash or card
Payment card
The term payment card covers a range of different cards that can be presented by a cardholder to make a payment.-Types:Typically a payment card is backed by an account holding funds belonging to the cardholder, or offering credit to the cardholder. Payment cards can be classified into types...
payments made it a popular choice with transport operators in urban areas including New York City
Transportation in New York City
The transportation system of New York City is a cooperation of complex systems of infrastructure. New York City, being the largest city in the United States, has a transportation system which includes the largest subway system in the world, measured by track mileage; the world's first mechanically...
, Cologne
Transportation in Cologne
This article covers transportation in and around the city of Cologne, Germany.- Road transport :- Ring roads :The city of Cologne possesses one of the most comprehensive urban ring road systems. The beltways were laid out during the end of the 19th and in the early 20th centuries and today are...
, Copenhagen and Dublin. A version of this newer design, with the codename FAA-2000/TS (ATOC), was put on trial in August 2003 at Twickenham
Twickenham railway station
Twickenham railway station is in Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.-History:...
, a South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
station. In conjunction with the redesign and rebuilding of the station forecourt area, two Ticket XPress machines - numbered 2000 and 2001 - were built into a wall next to the main station entrance.
At this stage, three companies were competing for trials and, ultimately, contracts from the Train Operating Companies for their systems (the Ticket XPress, Ascom's EasyTicket system and the FASTticket from Shere); Scheidt & Bachmann was the last entrant to the self-service machine market, as Shere's FASTticket product had been installed either permanently or on trial at various locations from as far back as 1996, and an Ascom EasyTicket machine had been operating for nearly six months at one of Britain's busiest stations, Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport railway station
Gatwick Airport station is the railway station at London Gatwick Airport that provides a direct rail connection to London 43 km away. The station platforms are located directly below the airport’s South Terminal, and the ticket office is adjacent to that terminal’s concourse...
. The start of the trial at Twickenham meant that all three systems could now be compared properly, taking note of passenger reactions and feedback.
The earliest large-scale adopters of Ticket XPress machines were ScotRail
ScotRail
ScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....
, which subsequently became First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
, and South Eastern Trains
South Eastern Trains
South Eastern Trains was a British train operating company, in public ownership, that provided train services in south east London and South East England from 9 November 2003 to 31 March 2006....
(now Southeastern (train operating company)
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
). ScotRail introduced machines at Glasgow Central and Queen Street
Glasgow Queen Street railway station
Glasgow Queen Street is a railway station in Glasgow, Scotland, the smaller of the city's two main line railway termini and the third-busiest station in Scotland. It is between George Street to the south and Cathedral Street Bridge to the north, at the northern end of Queen Street adjacent to...
, and Edinburgh's Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
and Haymarket
Haymarket railway station
For the Tyne and Wear Metro see Haymarket Metro station.Haymarket railway station is in Haymarket, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is Edinburgh's second largest station after Waverley, a major commuter and long-distance destination, located quite centrally near the West End...
stations, in January and February 2004. These were followed by further machines in central Scotland, and at smaller stations on the North Berwick Line
North Berwick Line
The North Berwick Line is a railway line linking Edinburgh with North Berwick in Scotland. The route follows the East Coast Main Line as far as Drem where it then branches to the north....
and Edinburgh to Bathgate Line
Edinburgh to Bathgate Line
The Edinburgh to Bathgate Line is a railway line in East Central Scotland. It is also known as the Bathgate branch and the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.-History:...
. More were added elsewhere in 2005 http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/content/news/view-scotrail-press-release.php?id=00000000030, and the installation programme is continuing gradually as of January 2007, with a machine being placed at Stirling
Stirling railway station, Scotland
Stirling railway station is a railway station located in Stirling, Scotland.- History :Stirling was first connected to the Scottish Central Railway in 1848. Lines were operated by the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway and the Forth and Clyde Junction Railway...
and South Gyle.