BLUEPRINT FOR BIRMINGHAM'S PASSENGER INFORMATION REVOLUTION

In a paper presented at the PTRC summer annual meeting in 1991 (Electronic passenger information systems - do they give the public what they want? (see IRRD 854993)), the authors examined the potential of electronic systems to fill in some of the gaps in the provision of public transport passenger information, and described how user reaction to interactive terminals introduced by Centro demonstrates the need to tailor information more to peoples' requirements. The paper also referred to Centro's plans to mount a major field trial of advanced information systems as part of Birmingham City Council's BLUEPRINT project. Following a successful bid for funding under the EC's DRIVE programme, the Centro field trial will be the major European demonstration of public transport information systems in DRIVE-2, and will help Centro to achieve one of its strategic aims to revolutionise the provision of passenger information in the West Midlands. The trial system will provide public transport information in the home, on the street, at bus stops, and to car drivers; it will use automatic display devices, interactive terminals, and a state of the art computer system for enquiry offices. The aim will be to include all bus operators, and the system will operate in real time wherever possible. The project timescale envisages design work being carried out in 1992. The system will be installed in 1993 and will operate as a trial until the end of 1994, to enable a thorough evaluation to take place. For the covering abstract of the seminar see IRRD 859670.