Passenger information system
By providing real-time information to travellers, they are better able to conduct their journey confidently, including taking any necessary steps in the event of delays.
Real-time information is provided to passengers in a number of different ways, including mobile phone applications, platform-level signage, and automated public address systems.
[6]Information may be delivered via any electronic media, including: Additional considerations include: The information provided by a passenger information system depends on its location and the technical scope (e.g. the size of the display screen) At a station or stop, it is normal to provide up-to-date predictions of: On a vehicle, it is normal to provide up to date predictions of: Personalised channels (web, mobile device, or kiosk) is normally set up to mimic the view from a station or stop, but they may in addition be linked to journey planners.
Using such systems, a passenger may (re)plan their journey to take into account current circumstances (such as cancelled services or excessive delays).
The first-generation model indicates only the termini of trains stopping at a station through the use of square lights beside the words bearing the name of a terminus.
The second-generation model includes an LED display above the square lights indicating the terminus and train service.
The DSA system has a GSM radio module to receive a text message to be displayed in a horizontally-moving news ticker style.
Many smaller and less well-used railway stations have, instead of such systems, "passenger help points", which connect the user by telephone to a control room by pressing an "Information" button.
The deployment of real-time bus information systems is a gradual process and currently extends to around half of the national fleet and a high proportion of town-centre stops but relatively few suburban and rural locations.
[12] Metro also provides current train and related information to customers with conventional web browsers, as well as users of smartphones and other mobile devices.
[13] In 2010, Metro began sharing its PIDS data with outside software developers for use in creating additional real-time applications for mobile devices.
Free apps are available to the public on major mobile device software platforms (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Palm).
[16] The New York City Subway began installing its public address/customer information screens, commonly known as "countdown clocks", in its stations in 2007.
In 2012, the system began offering SubTime, a website and iPhone app for real-time train arrival estimates for several of its subway services.
As of 2010[update], PIDS are being deployed with unified messaging, which can include information streamed to mobile devices, phones and translated directly to voice announcements.
