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Akbil
Istanbul Akbil smart ticket
Location Istanbul Province
Technology
Operator Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Currency TL (150 TL maximum load)
Stored-valuePay as you go
Credit expiryNone
Unlimited use Istanbul Province
Validity
Retailed
  • Offices
  • Newsstands
  • Small shops

Akbil was an integrated electronic ticket system used for fare payment on public transport in Istanbul, Turkey, and was first issued in 1995. In 2009 it was replaced by the Istanbulkart; while existing Akbil tickets could still be used, new ones were no longer sold, and it was completely phased out 2015. [1] It was valid for boarding buses, funiculars, LRT, metro, commuter trains, ferryboats and trams operated by the Metropolitan Municipality. Unlike payment by cash, the Akbil allowed a passenger to transfer service within the transportation network under some defined conditions. Akbil is a portmanteau formed from "akıllı", which stands for "smart", and "bilet" meaning "ticket".[ citation needed]

The Akbil device was touched to the reader at the faregate to gain access for boarding or on the vehicle to ride. The system used iButtons or smart radio-frequency identification cards as tickets. Akbils were 1-Wire (iButton) electronic tags. The keyfob version of the device had the emblem of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality moulded on it. [2]

The units could be acquired from offices near major transport interchanges for a refundable deposit of 6 TL, and were loaded with credits in these offices in amounts up to 150 TL. Alternatively, they could be loaded at special purpose machines, newsstands or small shops which offered this service. [2] [3]

References

  1. ^ "9 maddede bir İstanbul efsanesi Akbil" (in Turkish). Radikal. 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  2. ^ a b Worthington, Tom (2008-06-02). "Istanbul by Public Transport Technology and Travel-Akbil Electronic Ticketing System". TomW Communications.
  3. ^ "Akbil". Archived from the original on 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2012-10-13.