Public transport information systems - Essay Example

The plan for the journey should be chalked out in such a way that it will become very efficient for people to access it, moreover, with the system of electronic ticketing and all sorts of information regarding the fare. Background of Public Transport Information System In many developed and developing nations the need of an integrated public transport has been felt long ago and many countries including USA, UK, various other European countries, India, etc. governments of these countries have already installed the system in many of their cities and have made several plans for making the system more effective.

For example, in UK the Government already had a 10 year plan that it will provide an integrated system of Public Transport Information System wherein people will gain in confidence on its service. In any country, this service is always based on based on the aim of providing clean, fair, efficient and safe mode of transportation. The key objective is to provide information all time on transport facilities by operators and authorities in charge of the public transport system. (Department of Transport, UK, pg. 2-3) In UK, there was a Public Transport Act of 2000 wherein it is said guidance has been detailed on how and how much information should be delivered, when asked, by local authorities and in what way the information should be made available to the customers.

In this regard, the operators and the authorities should consult with the bus user groups and the traffic commissioner. (Department of Transport, UK, pg. 2-3) The information that is being delivered by the traffic operators and authorities are issued on paper but a great deal of information can be issued electronically. This will not only save time but also will deliver the information within the correct timeline, inclusive of all sorts of delay and incidents. On this purpose, equipments and systems has been routed for both buses and rails.

(LIU p 1-2) In this regard, there are two types of information. One is the Journey Planning Information and another being the In-Journey Information which includes information at stop or station. (LIU p 1-2) The information on Journey Planning is facilitated by a range of network owners and service provider websites and also from the National Railways Telephone enquiry service. In order to provide information on public transport through very often a series of regional centers linked with one another.

Sometimes, in many countries, particularly in European countries, these regional centers are being run by a group of local authorities, bus operators and passenger transport executives who have partnership on the contract. These regional centers which provide information on local basis can be developed and linked together so as to enable service on national level with the provision of national real time information. (Nijkamp, p.137-139) In the other type of information system, called the In-Journey information, the system is based on real time information system which is being provided by the individual operators, which has been tested and proven in several trail sites.

(Nijkamp, p.137-139) The development of the pubic information transport system frequently focuses on another key area of collation and delivery on information of fare so the passenger’