Via-T: the Spanish Interoperable
EFC System
Juan Marti & Pere Rigau
SERVIABERTIS
4th Seminar Technology for Road Pricing
–November 16, 2004–
page 1
CONTENTS
2. Origins of Via –T
3. Common EFC Service and Interoperability
4.
Via-T
3.1 Via-T basic information
3.2 Via-T foundations
3.3 Via-T payment circuit of issuing banks
3.4 Non financial payment means networks
3.5 Financial & non financial payment means org. in Spain
3.6 Via-T associated toll motorways
3.7 Via-T map
3.8 Advantages of Via-T
3.9 Stakeholders and their most important roles
3.10 A bit of history
3.11 Where to find more information
4th Seminar Technology for Road Pricing
–November 16, 2004–
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1. Origins of VIA – T
VIA – T has been the result of a request by the Spanish Ministry
of Road-Works for implementing a common EFC service in all
the new motorway concessions.
This request commenced with the Madrid road pricing system.
The Spanish Motorway Association agreed to extent such an
interoperable system all over Spain.
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2. Common EFC Service and Interoperability
The objective of a Common EFC Service is to allow users
to travel along different toll motorway concessions with a
single contract, a single OBU and receiving, for all tolls, a
single invoice.
This service is provided by interoperable EFC systems.
This interoperability can only be reached by means of
Technical, Operational and Contractual agreements.
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2.1 Technical Interoperability
• Achieved by the adoption of:
- a common specification for the interface between
the lane equipment and the OBU (On Board Unit)
- and a common Transaction Model
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2.2 Operational Interoperability
• Deals with:
- User contract related issues: contract itself, OBU delivery,
OBU installation instructions, etc.
- Motorway use: EFC lanes signaling, vehicle classification,
enforcement, incidents handling, etc
- Payment process: toll fee calculation, user invoice, black
lists, etc
- Customer service support: complains handling, technical
support, etc
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2.3 Contractual Interoperability
• Consists of:
- An agreement between Motorway Operators providing
the Common Service for the common payment circuit.
- A contract for the adhesion of the Issuers to the above
circuit.
- A contract between users and issuers, regulating the
operating procedures related to the use of the OBU
within the common circuit.
Those agreements are also known as MoUs.
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3. Via-T
• Via-T is the Spanish Common Service.
• Adopted by all the Spanish Toll Motorways.
• Based on 4 documents called:
 “Motorway Concessions MoU”
 “Motorway Concessions and Payment Means networks MoU”
 “Technical Regulations”
 “Operational Regulations”
signed by the Spanish Toll Motorways and the 3 Payment Means
networks.
4th Seminar Technology for Road Pricing
–November 16, 2004–
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3.1 Via-T Basic Information
• Conforms to the CEN DSRC TC 278 standards and PISTA
(=CESARE) Transaction Model.
• OBUs are issued by banks and transport related card
companies very soon.
• Clearing is made by the already existing Payment Means
networks of the issuing banks.
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–November 16, 2004–
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3.2 VIA – T Foundations
CEN
CESARE
VIA- T
PISTA
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3.3 Via-T Payment Circuit of Issuing Banks
EURO 6000
SERVIRED
4B
USER BANK (Issuer)
MERCHANT BANK
MOTORWAY
plaza
user
data
money
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3.4 Non Financial Payment Means Network.
TRCC 2
TRCC 3
TRCC 1
Issuer
TRCC 1
Acquirer and
clearing
MOTORWAY Back Office
TRCC N
PLAZA
Data
Money
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3.5 Financial and Non Financial Payment
Means Organizations in Spain
The 3 Financial Payment Means Networks:
http://www10.a
mericanexpress
.com/atm_locat
or/images/logo
_euro6000.gif
The Non Financial Payment Means Organizations:
Others
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3.6 Via-T Associated Toll Motorways
The Spanish Toll Motorways and their Association:
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3.7 Via-T Map
Dec 2004
4th Seminar Technology for Road Pricing
MediumTerm
–November 16, 2004–
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3.8 Advantages of Via-T
•Very large distribution network: all branch offices of 34 Spanish banks.
•No need to create new clearing organizations as Via T takes advantage of the
existing bank networks.
•No market captivity on the EFC equipment thanks to the use of well known
standards.
•The Spanish administration has forced the use of an EFC common system for
the new toll motorways around Madrid. Via T is the best answer to this
requirement, not only for those motorways, but also for the whole country.
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3.9 Stakeholders and their most important roles
•
•
•
•
Provide information to customers
Provide OBE and contract
Help desk
Pay transits
• OBE installation
• OBE use
•
•
•
•
•
Customers
•
•
Advise and help issuers
Provides clearing
Issuers
Payment
means
Provide help to customers
Generate transactions data
Settle claims
Receive money
Deliver invoices to customers
Motorways
Manufacturers
Merchants
• Collect transactions data
• Black list distribution
• Provide CEN complying
OBEs
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3.10 A Bit of History
•
•
•
•
•
May 2002: Agreement of intent between banks and concessionaires for
developing a common EFC project for Spain.
Dec. 2002: “Via T” product definition (Spanish motorways trade mark)
Feb. 2003: Operation with “via T” OBEs starts simultaneously in 5
Catalan concessionaires.
Apr. 2003: Last version of the operational and technical regulations,
agreed by Servired, Euro6000 4B and the concessionaires, ready.
Signature of the agreement between the motorway operators and the above
3 Payment Means Organizations, which represent the totality of the
Spanish financial entities.
November 2004: 18 concessionaires and 34 banks are operating normally.
4th Seminar Technology for Road Pricing
–November 16, 2004–
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3.11 Where to find more information
•
•
•
On banks issuing “via T” OBEs.
On current motorways operating “via T”.
On motorways to be operating via T in the near future.
Please visit www.viat.es
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