Dynamic RTPI and MTA in public transport

Passenger information is critical in making local and regional public transport more attractive to a large potential ridership. While dynamic real-time passenger information (RTPI) has become a widely accepted standard, intermodal in-vehicle dynamic passenger information including information on available transfers at next stops is not yet common. The author explains how SIRI is operating successfully in Switzerland. The provision of topical information influences passengers' perception of their public transport waiting times and journey times, resulting in more accurate perceptions, thereby allowing the operation of the public transport to be correctly perceived as more reliable, punctual and convenient. Managed Transfer Availability aims at making information about the highest number of planned transfers available to the passenger. The technology behind the system is explained and illustrated. Information about the first implementation and the latest implementation shows how the system is developing. The methods and effects of this information provision are described for the pre-trip, near-trip and on-trip stages. In-vehicle intermodal real-time passenger information is examined, and other advantages are investigated including the ability for transport authorities to manage and utilise their transport infrastructure more effectively.