A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO INFORMATION SERVICES IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

During the last years a lot of attention has been devoted to improving traveler and passenger information services, the main aim being to improve the quality and attractiveness of public transport. However, for a public transportation system to perform with high quality and reliability also other important information services must be (and in some cases already are) established. For instance, it can be demonstrated that the way incidents and disturbances are taken care of is highly related to such information systems. From a systems perspective several factors can be identified in public transportation, all involved in decision-making and supervisory tasks. A basic requirement for these factors in their activities is therefore the access to appropriate information about relevant segments and parts of the dynamic processes, which together constitute public transportation. This paper will introduce and highlight different types of information services, which all are found necessary in order to accomplish high quality transport services; and they of course include systems for traveler and passenger information services.