The new automated system for passengers’ fares (ASPT) will be launched in Sofia's trams and trolleybuses from September 1, Gancho Roussenov from Sofia Public Transport Company (known as SKGT in Bulgarian) told The Sofia Echo on August 5.

ASPT, produced by the Czech company Microelectronika, is currently the most modern and developing technology for overseeing passengers’ use of urban public transport worldwide. Passengers use a contactless smart card with a built in chip that serves as a pass for each trip they make. It comprises yellow automated card-readers at each vehicle entrance. There is also one automated ticket sale machine for single trip tickets, located behind the driver.

SKGT is currently conducting tests on the new system in its facilities. Tests will probably begin in public transport vehicles themselves on or around August 10, Roussenov said. The machines are already installed in Sofia public transport vehicles.

The new system will also provide automatic pass readers for public transport controllers who inspect passengers’ tickets and passes.

Since the beginning of 2008, more than one fifth of SKGT controllers have either been fired or subjected to disciplinary proceedings because of failure to abide by their work duties or because of poor service towards passengers, according to Bulgarian-language Zagrada.bg which quoted data provided by SKGT executive director Nikolai Kostov. The company had 120 full-time controllers, of whom two were fired and 25 subject to disciplinary action. Eighteen out of 80 other employees, who were employed as ticket inspectors on civil contracts, were fired, Kostov said.

SKGT's total sale of tickets and cards for public transport provided income of 57 266 509 leva since the beginning of the year. The company issued 12 713 free passes for the employees of the Ministry of Interior and 104 509 free passes for elderly people above 68 years old. The total value of passes sold during the period amounted to 2 722 505 leva.