LRTA stops selling magnetic cards

MANILA, Philippines - Beginning today, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will stop selling magnetic cards in the LRT Line 1 in preparation for the rollout of the new contact-less Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) that would use beep cards.

The LRTA has started using new beep cards and contactless tickets last July 20.

LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera said the firm would start replacing the old tickets in the LRT Line 1 northbound direction from Baclaran station in Parañaque to Roosevelt Ave. station in Quezon City after completing the replacement of the old tickets in the southbound direction.

“So the magnetic tickets will no longer be used. This is also part of the transition of our migration to the new ticketing system,” Cabrera said.

For the meantime, LRT commuters will be using coupon tickets like those used in buses and at the Philippine National Railway (PNR).

Cabrera explained that commuters who have purchased stored value cards could refund their remaining balance in all LRT Line 1 stations beginning tomorrow until Aug. 15.

He also said that the LRTA will replace old magnetic cards, which holders fail to refund, with beep cards after Aug. 15.

He, however, clarified that the LRTA has just stopped selling magnetic cards, and that commuters could still use their stored value cards in the next two to three days on a particular station.

“So, we will still calculate if what stations could still use (magnetic cards), but definitely we stop selling. I want to emphasize that we will stop selling magnetic cards but not stop using the cards (that are still in the possession of passengers),” he said.