Architecture and Interiors
Opal Card Ticketing Reader
By
Transport for NSW
4design
Description
The Opal Card Ticketing reader is a proximity card reading device for the Opal card, a new electronic ticketing system for Sydney's public transport, currently in rollout. This system will unite Sydney's trains, ferries and buses into one single integrated payment platform. Designed to withstand the environmental conditions of the public domain, particularly the harsh salt water conditions adjacent to Sydney Harbour, the reader is not only built tough but is easy to install, quick to maintain, customisable to each site's passenger flow requirements and can be wired in advance for testing. Its modular design allows different heights and orientations.
Key Features
and/or Benefits
The Opal Card Ticketing Reader can be customised quickly and easily on site to suit each installation environment but uses exactly the same parts. The reader head and upper signage pole can be articulated independently of each other in increments of 15 degrees, to orientate the readers to the pedestrian flow at each site. The same footprint can also accommodate a dual reader head for heavy pedestrian traffic flow in both directions or a single reader head for lighter traffic.
The readers were designed to be unobtrusive, inviting, intuitive and truly unique for Sydney's transport network. The streamlined pole has only the essential items penetrating the circumference. The sleek, tapering pole is both unique yet very challenging when considering the metal spinning manufacturing processes involved. However this process was the perfect choice to meet the high quality, low volume requirements of such a complex form in stainless steel. Considered ergonomics and a reader head that is angled towards the user makes it very easy to use for all customers including those with special needs.
The Ticketing readers are very easy to maintain. Reader heads can then be swapped out on site in less than 60 seconds. The central pole spigot allows the readers to all be installed, wired up and thoroughly tested in advance prior to going live with ticketing system.
The pole uses the latest in stainless steel corrosion-resistant grades that exceeds standard marine grade SS316. Being a round section it is one of the strongest cross sectional areas to resist a physical attack. The reader heads are all sealed and ingress protected to IP55. The reader head connectors are IP67 rated connectors to plug and unplug the reader heads. The reader head glass is toughened and non-reflective to ensure legibility of the screen at all times. Graphics are all baked to the rear of the glass to prevent vandalism or wear.
The LED light ring and additional upper pole section - where required - act as a beacon to indicate to passengers at busy locations where they need to 'tap on' or 'tap off' (a challenge at busy train stations when the platform is crowded).
