RAIL and bus operators in the Greater Tokyo region have agreed to introduce a common smart card by 2006 that can be used on services run by 53 organisations. Around six million passengers use the Suica smart card introduced by JR-East in 2001, and two other rail operators have smart cards. There are also two multi-user magnetic cards; one accepted by 23 railway and metro companies, and the other by 27 bus operators.
Introduction of the common smart card is expected to halt a recent decline in public transport ridership. The new ticket would be used by around 15 million people a day. Total cost of the project is put at ´23bn, with the railways investing ´13bn and the bus operators ´10bn; JR-East expects its share of the investment to be around ´3bn.
