Cubic Transportation Systems is making a difference to the future of public transit in the UK. Later this year, it is opening a multi-million-pound innovation centre to address transportation’s most critical challenges in collaboration with experts from Imperial College London. It has also introduced FEnX, a groundbreaking fare gate system that sets a new standard for revenue protection, security and accessibility for transit networks worldwide.
Cubic Transportation Systems will launch an innovation centre later this year with the mission of determining how emerging technologies can solve challenges in public transit. The centre will initially conduct research on improving transit agencies’ financial sustainability through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in a joint effort with academic experts from Imperial College London through Imperial consultants. While the collaboration and research begin immediately, the immersive centre will open in September 2025.
The centre will build upon Cubic’s legacy of innovation and technical excellence in transit. It will provide public and private sector thought leaders with a seminar space to present the latest research, demonstrate new technology and discuss emerging strategies for addressing transportation’s most critical challenges, including fare evasion, meeting net zero commitments and accessibility. It will also feature a customer experience area with a ‘tube station of the future’ – including customisable devices and digital walls for immersive demonstrations. The centre will be located within Cubic Transportation Systems’ headquarters in Redhill, Surrey in the UK.
Cubic, along with independent experts from Imperial’s Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA) Lab, form a world-class think tank to tackle the issue of revenue protection. The team at Imperial, headed by Professor Danilo Mandic, Director of the AIDA Lab and Professor of Machine Intelligence, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial, brings experience as one of the world’s leaders in applications of AI to solve real-world problems. Together, Cubic and the team from Imperial will investigate how these proven approaches can be applied to transit.
The centre will tackle the topic of fare evasion, which is a highly complex and expensive issue faced by public transit companies across the globe. Transport for London’s most recent annual estimate of fare evasion (2022-23) equates this to around £130-£150 million in unpaid journeys. The Imperial team will investigate rider behavioural patterns related to fare evasion and how to incentivise payment for using public transit. Cubic will also launch an internship programme for students at Imperial to help foster future talent in the industry and drive innovation. Over the coming months, Cubic will announce additional academic, nonprofit and industry partners for the centre.
“This collaboration is an opportunity for us to develop the transportation experts of the future,” said Professor Mandic. “Our students and researchers will be working closely with Cubic to harness the latest innovations in technology to solve transportation’s most significant challenges. We look forward to working together to develop new ideas, technologies and industry leaders.”
“By developing a centre that bridges industries, academic partners and government agencies, our aim is to discover better solutions for our customers and the wider public transit ecosystem, which will contribute to increased ridership and job opportunities,” said Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, Senior Vice President and President of Cubic Transportation Systems. “Our long-term vision is to replicate this model in key markets around the world, expanding our industry-leading partnerships and ensuring innovation is at the core of everything we do.”
Cubic Transportation Systems is an industry-leading integrator of payment and information solutions and related services for intelligent travel applications. Cubic delivers integrated systems for transportation and traffic management, delivering tools for travellers to choose the smartest and easiest way to travel and pay for their journeys and enabling transportation authorities and agencies to manage demand across the entire transportation network.
Earlier this year, Cubic Transportation Systems introduced FEnX, a groundbreaking fare gate system that sets a new standard for revenue protection, security and accessibility for transit networks worldwide. FEnX is reimagining transit infrastructure, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with user-centric design that reduces fare evasion, enhances passenger experience and optimises station efficiency.
“FEnX is a testament to our commitment to understanding and solving real-world transit challenges,” said Montgomery-Torrellas. “We’ve listened to transit agencies worldwide and created an end-to-end solution that addresses current needs and anticipates opportunities for the future.”
The FEnX gate can accurately detect, record and flag fare evasion as it’s happening, distinguishing between different types of fare evasion, such as pushing through or climbing under the paddles or tailgating, with great accuracy. The system also recognises legitimate scenarios, like a mother holding her child’s hand versus someone who is fare evading.
The system is operated by FLARE (Fare Loss Avoidance Reporting Engine), Cubic’s computer vision software, which analyses fare evasion incidents and generates detailed real-time reports for operations and enforcement personnel. The system provides transit authorities with actionable insights, helping them pinpoint fare evasion hotspots, guide enforcement strategies, optimise station operations and create a more secure environment for riders. While FLARE utilises computer vision technology and GenAI to classify objects and detect fare evasion, it also ensures strict privacy protection. It does not and cannot capture or disclose any personally identifiable information or biometric data (e.g. facial features or fingerprints).
Accessibility remains a key priority for modern transit systems, and FEnX achieves this by providing a smoother entry and payment experience by recognising a wide range of passenger needs. Equipped with ultra-wideband hands-free technology, the gate will enable touch-free access, making it easier for riders carrying luggage, parents with prams and passengers with disabilities to move effortlessly through stations. Its intelligent system can recognise when a passenger needs extra time, keeping the gate open accordingly and reducing false positives that could disrupt travel.
