Beijing subway's ticketing system will go completely electronic on May 17, ending the 30-year-old paper ticket system, reports Beijing News.
Reporters of several local media were present for the first test runs of the automatic fare collection (AFC) system at several subway stations two days ago. The tests involve 120 stations, each surveying an average of 3,000 electronic tickets and 200 electronic bus cards. The bus cards, which offer discount fares, have been issued to encourage the use of public transportation and will continue to be valid as subway tickets.
Both Beijing Subway Operation Co., Ltd and the Beijing Municipal Administration of Communications Card Co., Ltd, which is in charge of the electronic prepared bus cards, confirmed that the AFC system will be ready for use by mid-May
