In its first 15 months, Clipper card usage has grown to 500,000 transactions per weekday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (CA), but problems with the Bay Area regional farecard persist. Passenger complaints include unyielding turnstiles, overcharging, and out-of-service scanners. Officials from MTC, Bay Area Rapid Transit, San Francisco Muni, and Caltrain downplay the glitches,Read… Read more »
Eurostar, which provides high-speed rail connections between England, France, and Belgium, has launched a free mobile application that allows passengers to book trips and receive tickets directly on their phones. Passengers who book their trips on the app, which is available for iPhones and Android devices, will receive a mobile ticket with an electronic barcodeRead… Read more »
A month after District of Columbia officials announced improvements to the DC One Card, personnel problems and technical glitches have delayed the distribution of the student identification cards, which double as passes for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority buses and trains. First, a city staffing shortage created a backlog in processing the applications. Second, MetroRead… Read more »
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (TX) is launching a service that lets passengers check the scheduled arrival time for their bus or train by text message. Passengers can text the stop identification number to DART and receive the scheduled arrival time by return message. For now, the system provided only scheduled arrival times but real-time updatesRead… Read more »
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (DC) plans to roll out countdown signs at major bus stops. According to the Washington Examiner, the District of Columbia plans to add 70 signs at bus shelters in partnership with Clear Channel advertising and WMATA plans to add 85 more at major stops throughout the region. Passengers currentlyRead… Read more »
Calgary Transit (AB) will soon be launching real-time arrival information for its CTrain light-rail service. The roll-out is a few weeks late, but the system is in place and testing is under way. “I know people are getting antsy; they want to have it,” said spokeswoman Theresa Schroeder. “We want it, too. We thank everyoneRead… Read more »
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (CA) could introduce all-door boarding for its buses as soon as next year. Although they did not vote, Muni’s directors supported the idea as a way to speed up bus operations. To ensure that people pay their fares, Muni will have to add fare inspectors and make it easierRead… Read more »
Since January, the Washington State Department of Transportation has been placing advertisements on its website. The pilot program started small, with ads on the ferry schedule and tracking pages, but WSDOT is about to expand the program to its mountain pass and traffic conditions pages. The agency is following federal rules that prohibit advertising onRead… Read more »
Transport for London (UK) is testing an online version of its Countdown system, which provides real-time bus arrival information. The beta test site was supposed to remain private, but word quickly spread in the open data community after an internal TfL memo was leaked. Once the system is launched, riders will be able to receiveRead… Read more »
FirstGroup (UK) plans to invest £27 million in contactless fare technology for its 5,000-bus fleet. Starting this fall, the new fareboxes will be introduced in cities across England, including Manchester, Leeds, and Southampton. Customers will be able to pay with an ITSO smart card initially; contactless bank cards will be accepted starting next year andRead… Read more »