Outline of the Pre-operational Testing of the TIAA MRT Automatic Fare Collection System

Before the opening of the TIAA MRT System, the TIAA MRT Automatic Fare Collection System (AFC) has to go through at least two months of preliminary operational testing to ensure the correctness and stability of the system. During the testing phase, everything will base on normal operating conditions, system operational procedures and operating staff distribution and continue to verify the AFC system and integrated functions with other station facilities. The transaction data of stored-value/ ticket machines and gates in each station will be first sent to the station computer and then to the central computer system after data assembly to verify data connection (including transaction data and statistics) of the central computer system internally and with each station. The central computer system will also process and sum up transaction data to confirm accuracy of the day-trading accounts data of each station

The initial phase of the preliminary work of operational testing is setting central computer operational parameters, establishing personnel information and confirming normal functionality of equipment in each station. Then, Taoyuan Metro cards, CSTs and ticket administration staff badges are manufactured by fabrication equipment and activated to test the system. On the other hand, the PPU is prepared to simulate transaction data extraction via the PPU and uploading back to the central computer during equipment connection failure.
In the demonstration, the contractor appointed 100 testing personnel (including technical personnel). A portion of technical staff and Tayuan Metro staff acted as staff from the ticketing center to set operational parameters, manufacture personnel badges and activate the badges. The station staff were in charge of confirming functionality of equipment, checking the display time of equipment and station computers, working at POST to sell tickets, store ticket value, replace tickets, refund and input cash and ticket transaction data. The remaining personnel acted as passengers to test equipment transaction continuity and connection.

The criteria for passing the AFC testing are day-trade transaction continuity and 1600 or higher transactions per day. The testing scope consisted of several sections of the entire line and each station. Testing protocol is to buy tickets and enter in a certain station and exiting from various stations confirming equipment functionality and transaction continuity to acquire comprehensive and real-time operation revenue statistics.
Simulation Testing of Partial Stations on Traffic Dispersing of Large-scale Events after Official Operation which is requested to digest a large amount of passengers within two hours and confirm passenger count via transaction data.

During the testing phase, the transactions utilized real money and also official key (security access module) provided by the ticketing company to mimic real transaction data. Therefore, strict control of tickets must be executed to prevent unscrupulous persons from privately storing value onto their personal cards. Throughout the tests, no matter personnel control, food, personnel transportation, equipment availability, coins and ticket custody, etc., were all tested elements of the manufacturer's capabilities and also factors determining the success of this test.