Electronic "Real Time" Bus-Stop Signage

[SteelPan]

Translink seems to be taking a nap on rolling out real time bus-stop e-signage in Brisbane.  Nothing is more helpful for a waiting CUSTOMER to know they are not waisting their time standing at a bus-stop - particularly late at night, when buses are not frequent and safety is an issue.  For example, it's good to know, the say 10.14pm is on time/a little late/seriously late or simply not going to show - as it is, even on many major roads and Buzz routes the waiting CUSTOMER is left standing and confused!  The Translink dial-in number is, year after year pointless, as they cannot provide "real time" bus information, only published timetable information. So, if Translink read this, can we please have a policy of implementing, SE Qld wide, Real Time, bus-stop E-signage over the next 5-10yrs please!

[somebody]

You may be interested in this thread in the NSW part of ATDB: http://busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50202

[dwb]

As far as I'm aware they had $6mil for a full trial on the Sunshine Coast in this year's budget. However that doesn't mean that will get spent. Depends on capacity of industry to deliver what they want as well as them having the cash and other support necessary to deliver the project.  I'm reasonably confident it IS high on their priority list despite being rather overdue.

However in the meantime I find the quasi realtime info signs more confusing and frustrating than no sign at all cos invariably they are completely different to both reality AND the timetable!  Every afternoon at KGS I see frustrated customers get testy when they've watched it count down from 15minutes, sometimes several times in a row and still no bus. It would be better to implement something like "every 15min" until the estimated arrival time is accurate to within say 2mins.

[#Metro]

I think real time signs should be weighed up against the alternative of having a stop number and texting that stop code to get updates or internet like with TramTracker in Melbourne.

$6 million would last a long time and would go very far with a tracker system.

[dwb]

Tramtracker is expensive for the end user. If it were via something like iPhone which only cost data not text that would probably be fine, however it is still only a certain user segment. I think major stops, stations and busway stations all need site based electronic realtime displays. I'm not sure what order would be better to install, but I have a feeling an iPhone app that was easy to use would win them more praise!

[verbatim9]

Real-time information pilot on Queensland buses delayed until 2012

Eight months after announcing plans for a 12-month trial of a real-time passenger information system on Queensland buses, the state's transit authority, TransLink, is completing final preparations to begin the trial in early 2012.

The trial, part of the state government's $11.4 million Customer First project, was first outlined in May 2010 and will investigate which types of information delivery are most useful to TransLink customers to inform a wider scale roll out of the technology.

Despite originally being slated for commencement in November 2011, a spokesperson for TransLink told Computerworld Australia the system design had been finalised and the wiring and hardware brackets were currently being added to the 124 Clarks City Logan buses on which the trial will be conducted. However, the installation of the real-time hardware and trial wouldn't occur until early next year with data to become available to passengers from mid-2012.

"The system is designed to deliver real-time information on bus locations and arrival and departure information direct to customers," the spokesperson said. "It will also provide useful information to our bus delivery partners to help them in the day-to-day management of their fleets."

According to the spokesperson, if the trial is successful TransLink also intends to roll the system out across all South-east Queensland buses and ferries.

"The system is being designed to be compatible with other real-time systems to allow future integration with rail and light rail real-time systems.

"Real-time information will primarily be displayed at the point of travel via monitors on buses and at bus stops and stations, but also via TransLink's standard and mobile websites.

"Audio next stop announcements will form part of the on-bus information and TransLink is investigating the installation of on-demand audio announcements for the kerb-side displays."

German transport company, INIT, won the tender to create the system and has previously installed similar systems in Vancouver, Dublin and Dubai.

Follow Chloe Herrick on Twitter: @chloe_CW

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU

[verbatim9]

Was recently on Hawaii and in Honolulu they had real time kerb audio announcements of the bus route as the bus was arriving great stuff for unaware passengers. Would work well on the Gold Coast too. Be great to have the mobile real time APP ASAP as well as real time integrated into Google Maps