Public Transport Apps

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th April 2015

Re: Real-time information improved

Greetings,

Surfside and GoldLinQ (light rail) now real time too.  Excellent!

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

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

11th April 2015

Real-time information improved

Greetings,

Some excellent news!

Real-time information is now available for bus services Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay (Northern) and Ipswich/Springfield (Western) region.

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

This is very valuable for bus users in these regions as in general frequency of the services is not great.  So now users will be able to actually check in real time where the bus is relative to a user's bus stop.

Following bus operators are now real-time enabled:

Sunbus (Sunshine Coast)   
Hornibrook Bus Lines
Kangaroo Bus Lines   
Thompson Bus services
Brisbane Bus Lines services   
Bus Queensland Lockyer Valley
Park Ridge Transit   
Westside Bus Company

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Current:

Sunbus (Sunshine Coast)   
Hornibrook Bus Lines
Kangaroo Bus Lines   
Thompson Bus services
Brisbane Bus Lines services   
Bus Queensland Lockyer Valley
Park Ridge Transit   
Westside Bus Company
Surfside
GoldLinQ (light rail)

[nathandavid88]

The real time provider list was updated last week as well. List currently says:

Sunbus (Sunshine Coast)
Hornibrook Bus Lines
Kangaroo Bus Lines
Thompson Bus services
Brisbane Bus Lines services
Bus Queensland Lockyer Valley
Park Ridge Transit
Westside Bus Company
Surfside
GoldlinQ (trams)
Clarks Logan City Buses
TransDev Bus
Mt Gravatt Coaches
Bay Island Transit System Ferries
Brisbane Transport Blue CityGlider (Route 60)
Caboolture Bus Lines
Bribie Island Coaches

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

Interestingly, some Clarks LCBS buses I've been catching this week still have operational screens in them, while others have been disabled. No sign of them physically being removed from any buses just yet though.

[SurfRail]

^ Actually there are quite a number which have already been removed.  They have over 120 buses so odds on you would have seen some where they haven't got around to it yet.

[nathandavid88]

^^ Interesting that I haven't seen any, given the amount of buses I catch. Thanks for that.

[bcasey]

I asked the following question on the developer forum in relation to the BT buses appearing in the real-time feed:

I noticed recently that the real-time feed is now providing information for the routes serviced by Brisbane Transport. I'm assuming this means the testing has been completed, and this data should be reasonably accurate. Can you verify that this is correct?

Are there any buses/routes that aren't providing data yet, and if this is the case, do you have any estimates on when they will be available. Also, will real-time data for ferries and trains be available eventually as well, and what would be the timeframe for that?

And Translink has provided the following response:

TransLink are undertaking pre-production real-time testing on BT and BCC ferries. The GTFS real-time data may intermittently be available while we complete this testing.

We can assure you that the data will go live shortly.

Regarding rail, we are working closely with QR to provide a real-time feed and will provide updates to the group as to and when it becomes available.

So the real-time data that we are seeing today from the feed and on the PIDs and website is still part of their testing, but it looks like the data will go live soon. No exact timeframe for when the rail data will be available though.

[ozbob]

 ^     thanks

[ozbob]

 

==============

Twitter

Shane Doherty ‏@ShaneDoherty9 3 minutes ago

@jackietrad announces real-time tech so you will know when your bus, train or ferry is coming ... Even via your phone #9News #qldpol

[ozbob]

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

Real-time info update

Last updated: 10.18am Thursday 7 May 2015

TransLink is rolling out real-time info for bus, train, ferry and tram services in South East Queensland.
Latest news:

Real-time info is available now for bus, ferry and tram services in our Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Eastern, Southern, Northern, Western and Gold Coast regions. This means you can get up-to-the minute service information for the following operators:

Bay Island Transit System    Hornibrook Bus Lines
Bribie Island Coaches    Kangaroo Bus Lines
Brisbane Transport    Mt Gravatt Bus Service
Brisbane City Council Ferries    Park Ridge Transit
Brisbane Bus Lines    Sunbus Sunshine Coast
Bus Queensland Lockyer Valley    Surfside Bus Lines
Caboolture Bus Lines    Thompson Bus services
Clarks Logan City Bus Service    Transdev Queensland
GoldlinQ    Westside Bus Company

The TripTracker system recently trialled in Logan and on selected Brisbane bus services has been replaced by the new real-time info system. This will provide a consistent service across TransLink's South East Queensland network.

Keep checking www.translink.com.au for more information as we roll out real-time info for our South East Queensland train services.

[James]

==============

Twitter

Shane Doherty ‏@ShaneDoherty9 3 minutes ago

@jackietrad announces real-time tech so you will know when your bus, train or ferry is coming ... Even via your phone #9News #qldpol

Huzzah! No more waiting too long for the bus... just wait until it is a few minutes away, walk out the door and go!

You can now also see the platoons of buses going down the major corridors, or persistently late running services.

[brissypete]

Yay now complaints can be proven with a screenshot 😝

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard - Ministerial Statements
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2015/2015_05_07_DAILY.pdf

7th May 2015

Next Bus

Hon. JA TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade) (9.44 am): This government has delivered the final rollout of real-time information across all bus, tram and ferry services on TransLink's South-East Queensland public transport network. Customers will now be able to track their bus, tram or ferry service on their smart phone or online. Being able to count down to your service departure time can mean the difference between catching your bus, tram or ferry or just missing it, potentially allowing for precious extra time at home with family. No longer will customers have to rely on timetable departure times that can be impacted by various events.

Real time uses new technology installed on buses, trams and ferries, and includes upgrades to more than 2,500 new driver console units on all busses and ferries on the TransLink SEQ network. For the first time, more than 340 passenger information displays at busway stations or bus stops will display real-time data for customers. Customers now have easy access to up-to-the-minute departure times using those displays or using devices in the palm of their hand through apps such as the MyTransLink app, accessing online information or phoning the 24\7 TransLink contact centre. The MyTransLink app is being enhanced to update features, providing valuable assistance to vision impaired customers, ensuring real-time information is available and responsive to their needs as well.

The Next Bus technology behind this project has been supplied by QBIC and Queensland is the first place in the world, outside of North America, to use this tried and tested system. Overseas experience with similar real-time information has shown an increase in the use of public transport. Real time will also assist TransLink and its delivery partners to improve network efficiency and to provide faster, more accurate communication around service disruptions. It also provides transport planners with an enhanced ability to see problems arise on the route, resolve timetable issues more effectively and assist with better planning of the public transport network by providing richer data. Our government is getting on with the job of improving public transport and the completion of the real-time rollout will be an important tool in continuing to improve performance and customer service.

[bcasey]

QBIC is a typo in those statements, its not Queensland Bus Industry Council, its Cubic - http://cts.cubic.com/Solutions/NextBus/NextBus-Inc

[bcasey]

Translink just posted up on their Facebook page that they have released real-time info:

We're really excited to announce that real-time info is now available for bus, ferry and tram services in South East Queensland!
Get up-to-the-minute departure times and make public transport choices based on actual travel time. The full roll-out of real-time is expected by mid-2015, when trains are integrated into the system. Find out how to access real-time info here http://bit.ly/12fY2kC

Mid-2015 for the rail real-time info is a bit vague, but it does give me a bit of hope that it is coming.

[dancingmongoose]

Ugh. I catch the 29 from the Gabba to Boggo/Park Road to go home after work. Take a look: http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/stops-and-stations/stop/woolloongabba-station?RouteCode=29&Direction=&TimeDisplay=realtime There is absolutely no distinguishing between an arriving terminating service and an arriving UQ bound service. Of course I can go onto the specific platform feed (http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/stops-and-stations/stop/019050?RouteCode=29&Direction=&TimeDisplay=realtime) but I wish they would provide the platform on the station feed because some people are going to get very confused.

[aldonius]

That's a 29 problem in general - the TL site believes it to be a loop with only one service direction.

[brissypete]

Real time for BT is now live in the TransitTimes app, unlike the Translink app this tells you if a service is early/ontime/late.

[bcasey]

Yeah, the translink app is basically just mirroring the features that are on the website. I think about the only thing that is real-time on the app is the stop updates. The route timetables don't seem to update with real-time info, from what I can tell. The website does the same thing.

However, I think this is a good thing, at least from the perspective of a 3rd-party developer. Because the Translink app is free, other apps need to provide extra features and such in order to be commercially viable. Also, I would prefer Translink spend their time and money on making sure the data itself is accurate and detailed, and allow developers to spend the money to provide innovative features in their apps that consumes that data. There are already several apps out there that deal with this kind of data and are far superior to what Translink provides in their app.

[ozbob]

^ could please start a thread here listing the various apps? Now  is  the  hour ..

[bcasey]

^ could please start a thread here listing the various apps? Now  is  the  hour ..

Sure, I can do that.

[ozbob]

Thanks!

[bcasey]

This thread is dedicated to listing the mobile apps that are available to provide public transport information and features, such as route timetables, stop timetables and journey planning. They will use the following format:

App Name:
Supported Platforms:
Download Link:
Cost:
Features:
Uses Real-time Information: Yes/No
Cities/Towns supported:

If you know of an app that is not in this list, please post about it in this thread, and I will add it to the list.

[bcasey]

App Name: City Transit
Supported Platforms: Windows Phone
Download Link: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-au/store/app/city-transit/782f9f3b-222d-414d-9514-0f7f5c6f292a
Cost: $1.19 (Limited Free Version available)
Features:

• Live Tiles: Pin your favourite route(s) to your home screen to find out when your next bus, ferry, train or tram is due. (Paid Version)
• Offline Access: Download the timetable(s) you want and update them when you choose.
• Multiple Location Support: Access trip data for any city of your choice.
• Favourite Routes: Save your favourite route(s) and pin them to your home screen. (Paid Version)
• Live Twitter Feed: Keep up to date about public transport news in your area

Uses Real-time Information: No (All timetables stored locally)
Cities/Towns supported: Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide



App Name: Go Brisbane (Go "City" family of apps)
Supported Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Download Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/oak-systems-enterprise-pty/id337469733, https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=OAK+Systems+Enterprise
Cost: $3.29 - Note that this app is city-by-city, if you want to use it in another city, you have to purchase that city's version
Features:

• Auto Route Calculation
• Multi-segment Trips
• Route editor lets you edit or extend a trip (e.g. change at a different station)
• Full browsable timetable
• Platform numbers
• Favourites: Save your stops for quick access to departure information
• Over the air updates: Get the most up to date timetables as they are generated
• Location Search: Find your closest station or terminal, searching by name or GPS
• Summary view allows you to scroll through all matching trips for the week, showing ETA and arrival/departure times
• Reverse a trip options
• Get directions to nearest stations using GPS

Uses Real-time Information: No (All timetables stored locally)
Cities/Towns supported: Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Wellington, Adelaide, Auckland (Android), Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Townsville, Auckland, Wellington, Vancouver, Toronto, Washington, Houston, Miami, Porto Alegre (iOS)



App Name: NextThere
Supported Platforms: iOS
Download Link: http://nextthere.com/
Cost: $1.29/month or $4.99/year (Limited Free Version available)
Features:

• Apple Watch compatible
• Add stops you use public transport from and you'll see the next services due to depart - no setting up trips required
• Tap on a service to track your trip live
• Alerts about distriptions and service changes automatically shown as relevant
• All in a simple interface designed for iOS - swipe down to search, swipe horizontally to switch between stops, and hold then flick up to remove stops
• Today screen widget to see nearby upcoming services
• Receive push notifications about incidents and distruptions so you're always up to date (only available in Sydney)
• Add as many stops as you like (non-subscribers are limited to three
• See upcoming services further into the future
• Track every vehicle on the map at once

Uses Real-time Information: Yes
Cities/Towns supported:
Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Alice Springs, Gold Coast, plus regional towns in Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.
United States: San Francisco, Boston, Portland, Honolulu



App Name: TransitTimes+
Supported Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Download Link: http://transittimesapp.com/
Cost: $2.99 (Limited Free Version available)
Features:

• Journey Planner
• View real-time vehicle positions & estimates in supported cities
• View service alerts
• Save favourite trips, stops and directions searches
• View nearby stops
• View trips on a map
• Download timetables for offline viewing
• Check the balance for travel card (Myki, Metrocard, Go Card, SmartRide, Green Card, Action Card)
• View Wheelchair Accessibility at the stop or trip level (Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney)

Uses Real-time Information: Yes (Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, USA and Canada)
Cities/Towns supported: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, as well as many cities in USA, Canada and New Zealand



App Name: TripGo
Supported Platforms: iPhone, Android
Download Link: https://skedgo.com/tripgo
Cost: Free
Features:

• Real-time information for public transport (live map): tap on stops and stations to see real-time schedules. click on a route to see positions of the vehicle, live on the map
• Door-to-door options for easy comparison on price, time and environmental impact
• Public transport schedules/timetabls
• Reminders: add a reminder to your trip and the app will notify when to leave
• Pricing for public transport, taxis, tolls and car parks
• Sync & save trips to your calendar
• Turn-by-turn navigation

Uses Real-time Information: Yes
Cities/Towns supported: Sydney, Melbourne, South East Queensland, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, plus several cities in USA, Canada and Europe

[bcasey]

Reserved for additional info

[bcasey]

I'm at work at the moment, so I don't really have time to add some initial apps to the list now, but I should be able to start compiling a list when I get home tonight. In the meantime, if anyone wants to suggest some apps to go up on the list, please post below and I will add them asap.

[bcasey]

I might add websites in a separate list on the third post that I reserved for additional info. Feel free to post the link and a description of the features. I might restrict it to just websites that provide similar features to the mobile apps, like route and stop timetables, journey planners, and ones that visualize real-time info.

At the moment for the apps list, I'm copying the features list from the app's store page, but once I've got a few apps up in the list, I might add a list of common features with yes/no, for easier comparison. I'm also open to suggestions on extra fields to add to each app's description.

[pangwen]

Great work bcasey, I was going to put up a bit of a review of each of the above, but you've done a pretty good job there.

Just a note, the prices you've listed seem to be the Play Store prices. Unfortunately for us iOS users, the price is a bit higher for TransitTimes and Go Brisbane.

Some suggestions:
- Maybe note that the "Go" apps are city-by-city (i.e. you pay $3 and all you get is Go Brisbane, or Go Sydney etc.) whereas TransitTimes+ seems to give you access to all cities in the database for one payment
- Maybe add the MyTransLink app, given that it's the official TransLink one
- TransitTimes+ also supports Budapest in Hungary, apparently

Also, an app suggestion:

App Name: NextThere
Supported Platforms: iOS
Download Link:
Cost: $1.29/month or $4.99/year (Limited Free Version available)
Features:
• Apple Watch compatible
• Add stops you use public transport from and you'll see the next services due to depart - no setting up trips required
• Tap on a service to track your trip live
• Alerts about disruptions and service changes automatically shown as relevant
• All in a simple, gorgeous interface designed for iOS - swipe down to search, swipe horizontally to switch between stops, and hold then flick up to remove stops
• Today screen widget to see nearby upcoming services
• Receive push notifications about incidents and disruptions so you're always up to date (only available in Sydney)
• Add as many stops as you like (non-subscribers are limited to three)
• See upcoming services further into the future
• Track every vehicle on the map at once

Uses Real-time Information: Yes
Cities/Towns supported:
Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Alice Springs, Gold Coast, plus regional towns in Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.
United States: San Francisco, Boston, Portland, Honolulu

[pangwen]

Hmm... I'm not sure if it's just me, but there are a few routes that don't seem to have real-time enabled properly? I'm currently checking out 140 and 150 (inbound), and there are no bus locations available. Data is available for 140/150 outbound, as well as many other services inbound+outbound (including 130, 375, 196, 199).

[pangwen]

Also just found this list on the TransLink web site:

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/connect-with-translink

[ozbob]

There is presently a problem between Beenleigh and Ormeau.  The problem comes up on the Translink app, but not as far as I can see on TransitTimes ..

[ozbob]

There is presently a problem between Beenleigh and Ormeau.  The problem comes up on the Translink app, but not as far as I can see on TransitTimes ..

I wonder if it is because the TransitTimes app calls the GC line the Varsity Lakes line ..  so it might not flag it because the Gold Coast line not recognised on the TransitTimes app as such. 

[ozbob]

There is presently a problem between Beenleigh and Ormeau.  The problem comes up on the Translink app, but not as far as I can see on TransitTimes ..

I wonder if it is because the TransitTimes app calls the GC line the Varsity Lakes line ..  so it might not flag it because the Gold Coast line not recognised on the TransitTimes app as such.

Did eventually come up on TransitTimes ... took a while though ..  hopefully they come up as soon as the TL alert is issued ..

[ozbob]

I have installed TransitTimes+ on my phone.  I think it is good value as it covers all states, and will be useful in Melbourne and Sydney when visiting.

Still evaluating but looks overall promising.  Been following the 524s around, lots of fun ... < got to get a life 

[ozbob]

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

Real-time info update

Last updated: 4.02pm Friday 8 May 2015

About real-time info

Real-time info is available now for bus, ferry and tram services in South East Queensland!

Real-time information provides accurate predictions for the next services departing from your stop or station. It allows you to make public transport choices based on actual travel time, not just scheduled times, which may vary depending on traffic or weather conditions.

Using real-time info you'll be able to count down to the next service's departure time.

Keep checking www.translink.com.au for more information as we roll out real-time info for our South East Queensland train services.

[SurfRail]

I have installed TransitTimes+ on my phone.  I think it is good value as it covers all states, and will be useful in Melbourne and Sydney when visiting.

Still evaluating but looks overall promising.  Been following the 524s around, lots of fun ... < got to get a life 

Quentin (guy behind the app) is also pretty accessible.  He has already been in touch with me about an Android issue I raised where route number map markers only showed the first 2 digits and has now been fixed.

[Jonno]

My observation is that the time fluctuate a lot Not widely but a lot still It also shows that bus arrive no where near their schedule. Time to call for real-time on-time statistics (if we haven't already)!!!

[hU0N]

Hmm... I'm not sure if it's just me, but there are a few routes that don't seem to have real-time enabled properly? I'm currently checking out 140 and 150 (inbound), and there are no bus locations available. Data is available for 140/150 outbound, as well as many other services inbound+outbound (including 130, 375, 196, 199).

Yep. That seems to be problem with Transit Times particularly. The TL app shows real time arrival times (which vary slightly as they update, which real time data should), Transit Times shows either the inbound or outbound leg (and sometimes both) as only having scheduled times available. Some I've noticed with only scheduled time in TT, but real-time in TL are 385OB, 378OB, 380IN, 350IN. None have real time in TT, not even if you try and add real time tracking manually. All have real time in TL though.

Enough to make me about ready to give up on TT because not every route is real time, but TT doesn't make it particularly obvious (at a glance)when it falls back to scheduled times, while TL at least manages accurate info virtually all the time.

[Otto]

I've been running MyTranslink and TransitTimes side by side whenever I can during the last 2 weeks. They both have their good and bad points.
I have found MyTranslink to be quite accurate with live timing of buses providing the data is there. I use Mytranslink whenever I am waiting to take over a service. However, TransitTimes does not appear to be using Real Time Tracking but using the timetable instead. I have sat at major stops running both apps and it is MyTranslink that correctly predicts the arrival time whereas TransitTimes shows buses arriving that simply aren't there.

A plus for TransitTimes is I now have the balances of my GoCards, Myki Cards and Opel Card displayed plus easy access to all timetables in every AU city and the feature to easily navigate to the nearest stops shown on a map.
Big minus for MyTranslink is missing live timing information. As an example, take the Normanby busway stop. Some days you will only have inbound services available, other days only outbound / Northbound and all services ( combines outbound and northbound ) options. Yet on other days you can choose outbound, northbound, inbound and all services. There are other stops with the same problem.

The perfect app would be the layout of TransitTimes with the accuracy of MyTranslink IMHO.

[bcasey]

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.

[bcasey]

Sorry I haven't gotten around to updating the list yet with the new apps you guys have listed, I've been very busy the last couple of weeks. I'll try and find some time tonight to update it.

As I'm an Android user, and don't own an iPhone or Windows Phone, I may need people who own phones on those platforms to provide feedback on apps that are available on them. If the prices are different on those platforms, please specify it in your posts.

I'm also planning to add the transit agency specific apps that are available in each of the cities as well, maybe in a separate list.