On Monday January 18, HTM started replacing the OV chip card readers in the buses. They are equipped with the latest functionalities. This will be followed by replacement in the red-beige, RandstadRail and R-Net trams. HTM is expected to complete this extensive job by the end of 2021. The current OV chip card readers have reached the end of their lifespan and are therefore being replaced. The new type of card reader has a different look and is equipped with new functionalities. This means that the device allows multiple ways of checking in and out. This includes not only checking in with your OV chip card, but also with a barcode, mobile phone, debit card or credit card. But we are not there yet. Initially, travelers can only check in and out with their OV chip card. HTM will monitor the operation of the new card readers properly
The new OV chip card readers have a larger screen. When checking in and out correctly, the border lights up green and if something goes wrong, the border turns red. Just like now, this is also indicated by sound: check in (one beep), check out (two beeps) and error message (three beeps). The devices are equipped with the latest technologies and are therefore future-proof. It is not yet possible to pay for your trip in a different way than with your OV chip card and that is therefore disabled. This can be seen on the screen with a red cross. Unlike current card readers, travelers can hold their OV-chipkaart in front of the entire front to check in or out.
Miles of new cables
To enable the arrival of the new 3.872 OV chip card readers, HTM has added a lot of cabling in 211 trams and 143 buses. For example, more than 33 kilometers of network cable, 23 kilometers of power cable and 1,3 kilometers of antenna cable have been installed. A total of 354 routers and 778 distribution boxes have also been installed in the vehicles. HTM reports this on them website.
Also read: Public transport company HTM starts with busy indicator