Amtrak and Motorola Announce the First Fully Automated

On-Board Train Fare Collection System in the U.S. Passenger RailIndustry Washington, D.C. (PROTEXT) - In an agreement that willrevolutionize on-board fare collection in the passenger railindustry, Amtrak and Motorola's Worldwide Smartcard SolutionsDivision (WSSD) today announced they will take the lead inintroducing a state-of-the-art Automated Fare Collection System(AFCS). (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990623/CGW011) Implementation of the fare collection system will begin withintroduction of Amtrak's new Acela Express high-speed railservice between Boston-New York and Washington later this year.In October of 2000, it will be implemented throughout Amtrak'snationwide rail network. "This agreement with an industry leader in communicationstechnology will bolster Amtrak's financial performance andtransformation into a sound, customer-focused enterprise," saidGeorge Warrington, Amtrak's president and chief executiveofficer. "When this project is completed, it will be the firstand only one of its kind in the passenger rail industry, andthat's why other passenger railroads are looking to follow ourlead." As part of the $24 million contract, the computerized on-boardfare collection system will put to use state-of-the-arttechnology that will be applicable for the entire passenger railindustry. "Motorola is thrilled to implement a unique, first-of-its-kindautomated fare collection system for Amtrak," said FrancoisDutray, vice president and general manager, Motorola WSSD. "Ourinnovative solution is designed to help Amtrak enhance itscustomer service and continue to be a premier transportprovider." The new fare collection system that Amtrak began developingmore than a year ago will replace the current cumbersome andtime-consuming on-board manual ticket collection and paymentsystem. The computerization of many tasks and the introduction ofsmart cards will make the system more efficient for customers andconductors, who will be able to devote more time to customerservice. The new system will also give Amtrak, more accurate and timelyridership and revenue data. And, it will significantly improveAmtrak's management of its seat inventory, helping in large partto generate more than $7 million in additional revenue when fullyoperational. Not only will real-time passenger manifests permitthe sale of cancelled reservations or sale of seats of ticketedpassengers who do not board the train, but more importantly itwill improve safety by giving Amtrak a better accounting of whomis on board the train. Later this year on Acela Express, conductors will use a HandHeld Device (HHD) configured with the train's passenger manifestto read the ticket barcode, process ticket sales using creditcards, checks, cash or smart cards, and issue a receipt or seatcheck utilizing a separate printer that fits on the belt. Theinformation captured by the HHD will be transmitted to an On-board Computer (OBC) via a HHD docking station. Once the trainreaches a designated station, the data will be transmitted to aStation Information Computer (SIC) via wireless LAN technology,which is linked to Amtrak's Arrow reservations system. When operational nationwide in October 2000, data will betransmitted while the train is in motion, not at designatedstations, via a wide-area, wireless communications network. The contract also calls for Amtrak and Motorola to test twosmart card applications and eventually roll them out system wide.In one pilot project, frequent customers of Acela Express' first-class service will be able to use the Motorola M-Smart(TM) smartcard as an e-ticket. In another pilot, the smart card will beused to track on-board meals on Amtrak's long-distance trains.The results of the pilots will enable Amtrak and Motorola torefine the requirements for the larger scale rollout of smartcards. Smart cards are credit-card sized devices embedded with acomputer chip that can accept, store and send up to 100 timesmore information than traditional magnetic-striped cards. Today under new leadership, Amtrak is turning the corner tobecome a successful business enterprise. In 1998, Amtrakpassenger revenues surpassed $1 billion for the first time everpowered by the largest ridership increase in a decade, totalingmore than 21 million customers, and the best on-time performancein 13 years. As part of its turnaround, Amtrak is focusing ongrowing public and private business partnerships, improving andguaranteeing consistency and quality of service, introducinghigh-speed rail in the Northeast this year, and developing otherhigh-speed rail corridors nationwide. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is a global leader in providingintegrated communications solutions and embedded electronicsolutions such as software- enhanced wireless telephone, two-wayradio, messaging and satellite communications products andsystems, as well as networking and Internet-access products, forconsumers, network operators, and commercial, government andindustrial customers. Sales in 1998 were $29.4 billion. For moreinformation on Motorola, visit www.motorola.com. For more information, contact John Wolf of Amtrak, (USA) 202-906-3860; or Mike Doheny of Motorola, (USA) 847-576-6931. Note to editors: Photo will be available later today. otsOriginal Text Service: Motorola Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: John Wolf of Amtrak, (USA)202-906-3860; or Mike Doheny of Motorola, (USA) 847-576-6931Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990623/CGW011 orNewsCom (USA) 213-237-5431; AP PhotoExpress Network, PRN1;PressLink Online, (USA) 800-888-6195 Web site:http://www.motorola.com

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