Beep Card System Pros and Cons

Image source manila standard today

Have you ever saw or used the new Ticketing System of LRTA?

Image source Cnn Philippines

Last May, LRT Line 2 started to use the all new ticket system called "Beep Cards". Beep is a re-loadable contact-less smart card aimed to be a replacement for the magnetic card-based system in paying rail based rapid transit transportation fares in and around Metro Manila. Beep is also aimed to be used in lieu of cash in some convenience stores and other businesses. The Beep system is implemented and operated by AF Payments Incorporated, which is primarily owned by Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. - source wiki

The value of a Beep stored value card the time I bought was 100php (80php for the load and 20php for the card). And here are what I noticed using the new ticket system of LRTA.

Pros:
1. More high-tech system
2. The ticket is now re-loadable
3. More reloading stations
4. If you have stored beep cards, you can just tap it even your card is on your bag/wallet as long as it can read the card.
5. You can now use the beep stored card on LRT line 1 and 2, and MRT

Cons:
1. I felt the slow entry and exit of the passengers.
2. If you happened to put your ticket before someone in-front of you can exit , there is a chance of your card/load have been used by that person, So, you cannot use your card again and you will be   knowing what happened. This is a system bug of the ticket system.
3. If your balance is below the cheapest fare, There is no longer Last Bonus Trip compare to the old system where you can still use your ticket even at 1php balance.
4. The system is more Hack-able.
5. Much slower buying of tickets.


For me the new system is not fully develop to make the process more effective and efficient. I may rate it, 4 of 10 (10 being the best). I think our government should priority first the trains itself because this is much what we need rather than ticketing system.

Post your comments below.