Public Transport Apps

[hU0N]

The accuracy of the MyTranslink app is available to any mobile app, as long as they are setup to consume the GTFS-RT feed. Since it only came out a few weeks ago, I'm not that surprised that TransitTimes isn't using it yet, although if they are already setup to use GTFS-RT feeds from other cities, it shouldn't be too much of an issue to get it working for SEQ.

The MyTranslink app is pretty much just a port of the functions that are available on the website, plus the ability to select routes and stops as favourites. As such, from what I've observed, the only part of it that is real-time is the Stop timetable. Route information is still based on the timetable, and I'm fairly sure the journey planner is still working off the static timetable as well.

My observations of the MyTranslink app are the same as yours.  As for TransitTimes - it appears only to have real time enabled on selected routes (and then in many cases only in one direction).  I, like yourself, am not surprised that the GTFS-RT support isn't perfect yet, but I'm a bit mystified why it IS enabled on the routes where it is, and not on the rest.  I thought that the entire SEQLD network was on the one GTFS-RT feed, and I don't see why you would digest this feed and then only show that data on some routes and not others.

[SurfRail]

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/1174882489204481

The irony of not being able to see how far away this might be is probably not lost on some.

[verbatim9]

TransLink still must be testing as I have found with the busses on the TransLink App and on Transit Times it falls back to Scheduled times or falls away from the list of busses due when the bus is still due to arrive

[James]

TransLink still must be testing as I have found with the busses on the TransLink App and on Transit Times it falls back to Scheduled times or falls away from the list of busses due when the bus is still due to arrive

Now I don't travel as much on the buses as I used to (my car doesn't run once every hour at night and on Sundays), but I've found that only a few services tend to fall back to scheduled - generally for good reason (e.g. the bus hasn't left the starting stop yet).

You'd probably find this to be a much smaller issue with trains as the trains only run on set corridors and are quite strictly controlled by signals, compared to buses which can go walkabout just by taking a wrong turn.

[Derwan]

Go Brisbane has been updated to include real-time data.

It's very handy as Go Brisbane stores trips instead of stops - so you see a list of buses that you can catch instead of every bus.

[verbatim9]

Transit times has definitely fallen back to schedule only have emailed the App development team

[verbatim9]

Haven't noticed realtime coming through on Google Maps/Transit as yet, while in San Diego shows real time delays. I guess that real time will show on Google Transit here in Se Qld once the Trains are integrated 

[red dragin]

When using TransLink app for Platform 9 Roma Street, and Platform 2 Dakabin, I get the choice of Real Time. The services after the next hour show as scheduled.

Does this mean the trains are finally live?

[verbatim9]

Maybe!?

[verbatim9]

Must be now showing real time Departing

[ozbob]

 

Might be the final test before the big presser hey?   

[ozbob]

Heading into Central from Goodna this morning I noticed this.

Has a service running wrong road ... have queried it ... looks like a bug.  The real time info was correct for the service I boarded.



[ Goodna has reversed platform numbering for those not aware of that.  down is 1, up is 2  ]

[ozbob]

^  yope !  confirmed as a bug ...   

[verbatim9]

Hope that info for platform changes goes live at Stations like Glasshouse Mountain Station

Sent from my SM-G360G using Tapatalk

[nathandavid88]

Has anyone had issues with bus services being listed as "cancelled" on real time, only to find that the bus was actually still running, but its Go Card readers were down?

I've experienced it a couple of times this month, including one when I did my best Usain Bolt to get to the bus stop before the bus (from the bus stop around the corner where I was waiting for my Plan B bus). Shouldn't a bus with down readers reverted to scheduled arrival times, with cancelled only applied to buses that have literally broken down/cannot proceed? There's nothing worse than making alternative transport arrangements only to see the bus you were waiting for pass.

[ozbob]

Has anyone had issues with bus services being listed as "cancelled" on real time, only to find that the bus was actually still running, but its Go Card readers were down?

I've experienced it a couple of times this month, including one when I did my best Usain Bolt to get to the bus stop before the bus (from the bus stop around the corner where I was waiting for my Plan B bus). Shouldn't a bus with down readers reverted to scheduled arrival times, with cancelled only applied to buses that have literally broken down/cannot proceed? There's nothing worse than making alternative transport arrangements only to see the bus you were waiting for pass.

Thanks. That's a very good point.  I will try to follow that up.

[ozbob]

Hope that info for platform changes goes live at Stations like Glasshouse Mountain Station

Sent from my SM-G360G using Tapatalk

Indeed.  I hope that they can get this spot on, as musical platforms can be very difficult.

[red dragin]

Got a push message via the Translink App about their real time provider running an update so no real time data for 30 minutes.

Because between 3pm & 3.30pm on a Friday is the perfect time to do an update 

Hopefully it was the final step for the trains - my morning train did report it was one minute away on the app, two minute before the "the .... train will arrive in approx two minutes message" played.

[red dragin]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/25611/details

Updated to mention trains now

[ozbob]

^ thanks.  Finally ' official '  ..

Wonder why no presser? 

[verbatim9]

I think TransitTimes need to do an update for Trains to show as real time. I have also noticed that Nightlink on Fri and Sat after midnight default back to scheduled times.

[James]

I think TransitTimes need to do an update for Trains to show as real time. I have also noticed that Nightlink on Fri and Sat after midnight default back to scheduled times.

That is something that is 'designed in' to the system. I think the issue is that the times go from 11:59pm to 12:02am (for example), and as 12:02am is before 11:59pm, it'll muck up the system, or something like that.

You'll see any service that has any part of the trip run after midnight will appear as 'scheduled', up until when 'the new day' starts - either 2am, or whenever a service exists exclusively in the next day. Its not really that smart, but hey, this is Queensland, at least we have real time. Not like drunks can organise themselves enough to get to a bus 100m away leaving in 5 minutes.

[verbatim9]

Thats unfortunate

[verbatim9]

Has anyone downloaded the moovit App. It has next stop info in real time. Might help get around that wrap advertising ?

[verbatim9]

More examples re en route function while riding the 77 via Moovit

[Derwan]

I thought I'd revive this thread.

The MyTransLink App is almost a year old.  (According to iTunes it was released 20 December 2014.  The original announcement was 22 December 2014.)

Since then there have been only two updates to the app:

3 March 2015:  Bug fixes
8 September 2015: Compatibility updates and bug fixes

It would appear that TransLink has the attitude that once the app was released, that would be it.  Job done... move on.  Perhaps they don't understand the very nature of a successful app.  A successful app is never "finished".

One year later and there haven't been any improvements.  We're still waiting for:

• Journey Planner built-in to the app instead of a wrapper for the website
• Saving journeys as well as stops and services.
• Go Card account management
• Native support for iPhone 6 resolution. (The iPhone 6 was release before the MyTransLink App!)

What other improvements would you like to see?

[ozbob]

[hU0N]

1. Choose whether to start on the "My Services" or "My Stops" page. I live in an area with more than one bus route within 1km walk. So I'm almost always more interested in what the next few buses (any route) through a particular stop are, than I am interested in when the next few services on a single particular route.

2. Sort the "My Stops" page based on location so that the stop I'm currently standing at is always near the top.

3. Add a "Near Me" page. Choose a direction (ib or ob) and this option displays the next five services departing from a stop within some fixed radius of my current position. Or some function like that.

[ezekial]

3. Add a "Near Me" page. Choose a direction (ib or ob) and this option displays the next five services departing from a stop within some fixed radius of my current position. Or some function like that.

+ 1

Also, instead of treating train platforms as independent stops, why can't it treat the station as the stop? You could then have the option to view by platform or line - or view everything at the station. Presently, if you want to view trains at any given station you must select a platform and then there are drop down menus to select: Upward or Downward; or view by 'Route' (BRSP / CAIP / NABR).

How can the average person on the street be expected to decipher that?! 

Same principle with Cultural Centre busway station and others having platforms as completely separate stops!

[verbatim9]

Map tracking on services selected.
En route ETA.

[#Metro]

What other improvements would you like to see?

An RBOT App. Then we can push pro-PT messages on it from time to time! 

[dancingmongoose]

Also, instead of treating train platforms as independent stops, why can't it treat the station as the stop? You could then have the option to view by platform or line - or view everything at the station.

Same principle with Cultural Centre busway station and others having platforms as completely separate stops!

Won't change, because that's the way GTFS works.

A Stop represents a location where a vehicle stops. Stops should model as closely as possible actual stop locations. For example, each platform in a railway station that is physically separate should be represented by a Stop with another entry that represents the station as a parent. The lat/long position of each Stop should be as accurate as possible. For bus stops, if there is a stop on both sides of a road, they should be represented by separate Stops.

I agree it's less than optimal however that is how it works. It does make sense for bus stops but stations not so much.

Not sure why you can't view a station when you can on the website: http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/stops-and-stations/stop/roma-street-station

Not sure how routes work with GTFS, but it definitely should change. A Northgate to Park Road service is called Caboolture line to Beenleigh line which is less than helpful.

[bcasey]

Also, instead of treating train platforms as independent stops, why can't it treat the station as the stop? You could then have the option to view by platform or line - or view everything at the station.

Same principle with Cultural Centre busway station and others having platforms as completely separate stops!

Won't change, because that's the way GTFS works.

https://developers.google.com/transit/gtfs/reference#stops_fields

The GTFS specification allows for the differentiation between stops and platforms, via the parent_station field. However this field is optional, so it is up to the transit agencies as to whether they will go to the extra effort of adding this data to their files.

Having just double-checked the most recent GTFS files, I can verify that Translink does use this part of the specification.

Therefore, it is possible for the app developers to implement a feature like what you are suggesting, viewing it by platform or the entire station, it would just require some additional processing of the data to display all of the arrivals at the station, as well as additional UI changes to display the platform for each arrival. I wouldn't say its a trivial change, but its definitely possible.

[kaykayt]

...no major update...

[verbatim9]

New update for my Translink allowing trip tracker

[verbatim9]

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/journey-planner/mytranslink

MyTransLink has a new feature – the trip announcer!

Use the trip announcer feature to track your journey in real-time. The screen will update as the trip progresses, displaying a map, the stop names and remaining trip time.  You can also set stop announcements that will announce your pre-selected stop or the next stops on the route.

There are a number of ways you can access the trip announcer:

    Go to "Timetables", select your bus, train, ferry or tram route, scroll to your departure stop, select the departure stop or the time of your service.
    Go to "Find stops", find and select your stop, select your service.
    Go to "My Services", select your favourite bus, train, ferry or tram route, scroll to your departure stop, select the departure stop or the time of your service.
    Go to "My Stops", select your favourite stop, select your service.

[verbatim9]

Yeah I used it today posted a post in another app thread. Uses a digital voice. Next PIDs on the new BCC busses to allow next stop info.

[verbatim9]

Yeah I used it today posted a post in another app thread. Uses a digital voice. Next PIDs on the new BCC busses to allow next stop info.

[aldonius]

So the app can tell you when your bus stop is.

They need to be trumpeting this, it's a real worry whenever someone uses a new route for the first time.