Automatic Fare Collection System and Introduction of Contactless IC Card, “Suica"

Abstract

“Suica" is our contact-less IC-card's nickname: Super Urban Intelligent CArd. There are two types of Suica: 4.5 million Suica Commuter Pass with the stored fare (SF) function and 2 million Suica IO (SF) Cards have already been procured for ticket gate system. Suica can be used without taking the card from the pass-case, and the necessary fare will be extracted from the card automatically at the gate. Suica can be used repeatedly with the re-writing and reloading function. Suica Pass can be re-issued with the remaining stored fare when it is lost. There are 5.84 million Suica holders (about 2.94 million Suica Season Pass holders and 2.9 million Suica IO Card holders) as of 24, March 2003. Average reloading value amount is about 3, 000 Yens. There are almost 3 million transactions (not including the usage of Suica Pass inside the pass zone).