REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION a system for Edinburgh

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REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION - a system for
Edinburgh
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PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Scottish Executive Public Transport Fund award
  to City Council to implement a Real Time
  Passenger Information system in Edinburgh
• Scottish Executive funding targeted at QBC
  between Ocean Terminal and Straiton / New
  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

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PROJECT OVERVIEW
System Partners

• Lead The City of Edinburgh Council
• Public Transport Operators Lothian Buses and
  
  First in Edinburgh
• Long-term success requires the commitment of all
  partners
• Essential that aspirations of all partners are
  met
• Lothian Buses and First in Edinburgh contributed
  to and agreed system specification
• All partners participated in tender assessment

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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Key Issues to Address

• Technical Issues
• Functionality detailed specification reflects
  the City of Edinburgh Council RTPI needs and bus
  operator requirements for extensive, real-time
  fleet management capability
• Procure technology from established suppliers
  with proven track record - tender assessment was
  rigorous including site visits
• System expansion Phase 1 lays the foundation
  including a communications and fleet management
  capability across the whole of the city

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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Key Issues to Address

• Administrative Issues
• Effective system management and administration
  essential for long-term success
• Legal agreement between stakeholders
• Project Team, including bus operators, already
  considering future Roles and Responsibilities

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PROJECT OVERVIEW
The key objectives are to provide

• An Automatic Bus Location system
• Real-time passenger information
• A comprehensive fleet management system
• Bus priority at traffic signals
• A comprehensive public transport database for
  future studies and research
• Security of commercially sensitive data
• An interface to disseminate public transport
  information through a variety of systems and
  communication media
• A robust maintenance package.

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Scope of Phase 1

• 250 Lothian Buses
• 3 depots - Annandale, Longstone Marine
• 85 real-time information signs on-street
• Real-time information signs at key locations
• e.g. Ocean Terminal, Cameron Toll and NERI.
• Bus priority at 70 junctions
• Optional items e.g. on-bus signs, voice messages
  at stops will be trialled

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SYSTEM BENEFITS a CEC Perspective

• Local Transport Strategy Core Objectives
• To provide comprehensive information for bus
  passengers

• RTPI meets core objectives through
• A variety of real-time display types
• Web sites
• SMS text messaging services
• Improved Traveline information
• Possible links to journey planners and national
  initiatives

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SYSTEM BENEFITS a CEC Perspective

• Additional Benefits
• Selective bus priority at junctions reduces
  delays improves reliability
• Historic database provides improved public
  transport planning / design opportunities, e.g. a
  detailed understanding of network delays will
  improve the design of bus priority measures

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Delivering Information to Passengers

• On Street Displays
• Bus stops pole mounted signs

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Delivering Information to Passengers

• On Street Displays
• Ability to display high frequency routes
• Displays up to 12 services in traditional
  countdown style
• Sign design issues with city planners
• Planning Applications required for signs in
  conservation areas

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Project Overview
Internet, Mobile phone and Land-line Access

• The RTIS will be capable of disseminating
  information via the internet and mobile phone
  text messages service

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Potential Benefits for Lothian Buses

• Real-time fleet management opportunities
• Improved scheduling using historic data
• Improved commercial analysis of service
  performance

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Fleet Management Benefits
Dispatch Functions

• Windows Map based schematic real-time
  displays available
• View current status and progress against vehicle
  running board
• Create a broad overview or analyse individual
  services or buses
• Manage fleet in real-time e.g turn short,
  reassign to different service etc

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Fleet Management Benefits
Driver display showing

• Current time
• Schedule adherence e.g /- 2 minutes
• Headway status showing gap in minutes of buses
  ahead behind
• Next bus stop name
• Next timing point and target time
• Text messages from dispatcher
• Quick key facility sends standard messages to
  dispatcher

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Fleet Management Benefits
Driver Security

• Discrete emergency button installed on bus
• Pressing button sends emergency alert to
  dispatcher
• Emergency calls automatically
• - open voice communication with dispatcher
• - display bus location on dispatcher
  screen - sounds warning alarm for dispatcher

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Historical Database

• Background
• On-bus computer records all operational data
  throughout the day
• Data automatically downloaded over-night in
  depots
• Data Analysis Opportunities
• Standard reports and statistical analysis
  facilities provided
• Schedules can be revised to reflect past
  performance
• Detailed analysis is possible e.g to compare the
  performance of different vehicle types

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Recommended System Supplier
INEO SYSTRANS

• A major supplier of RTPI and fleet management
  systems
• 18 years experience
• Origins in public transport operations
• Site visits demonstrated a detailed understanding
  of public transport fleet management systems
• Over 10,000 buses and trams equipped across
  Europe
• Major clients include
• RATP (Paris) with 5000 buses
• Dublin Bus
• City of Montpellier (1st tramway in the south of
  France)

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Summary

• 1. The proposed Real Time Information and Fleet
  Management system offers significant benefits for
  the City of Edinburgh Council and local bus
  operators
• 2. INEO SYSTRANS, the recommended supplier,
  offers a mature, high specification product and
  has a proven track-record in implementing such
  systems
• 3. The proposed system lays the foundation for
  future expansion
• 4. The administrative framework required for the
  long-term management of the system is being
  developed

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BusTracker opened by Alistair Darling MP on 26
November 2004
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REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION - a system for
Edinburgh