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TTC launches 'e-alerts' for riders
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| dEsidEL |
better late than never i guess... NO better on time!
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SUPPLIED PHOTO
TTC riders will now be able to get e-alerts to learn if their trains are on time.
TTC launches 'e-alerts' for riders
January 14, 2009
Tess Kalinowski
Transportation reporter
A new TTC service will now let riders know when the train or the SRT is going to be delayed or closed.
Starting today, riders can subscribe to the TTC's e-alerts to receive an email telling them whether they should walk rather than run to the next subway station.
The TTC is already working to expand the alerts to its bus and streetcar system and to deliver the alerts via text message. Eventually riders will be able to receive messages customized to their own routes, stations and preferred travel times.
The e-alerts are the latest in a wave of information services being rolled out by the TTC to help riders better plan their trips.
In December, the TTC launched subway and streetcar platform signs that give riders real-time information on the arrival of the next vehicle. Those signs will continue to be rolled out at transit shelters and stations across the city. Later this year, the TTC plans to launch an on-line trip planner and on-line sales of Metropasses.
TTC chair Adam Giambrone says the information will help riders better plan whether they want to delay their trip, take another route or opt for a cab.
Riders can subscribe to e-alerts immediately at TTC.ca
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/570775
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| tobywan |
| Now you can get updated on our ty service, instantly! |
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| TO guy |
| quote: | Originally posted by tobywan
Now you can get updated on our ty service, instantly! |
nah, I bet the updates will be delayed longer than the ty service. |
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| Orko |
Other than major delays (30min+) the alerts are useless for the subway. The trains already run at a frequency of 3-5min, so that means you just walk to the subway and wait. I'm not really sure how helpful these will be.
Now if they had them for buses, which have a frequency of 30min, then that would be helpful, but of course they do not. |
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| exstasie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Orko
Other than major delays (30min+) the alerts are useless for the subway. The trains already run at a frequency of 3-5min, so that means you just walk to the subway and wait. I'm not really sure how helpful these will be.
Now if they had them for buses, which have a frequency of 30min, then that would be helpful, but of course they do not. |
Well it is still good to know when there are major delays.
It happens quite frequently where there are issues with specific stations/lines that will cause a delay.
It will allow people to figure out an alternative route beforehand.
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| The Highroller |
It's about ing time!
Now they need to expand this to buses that have "Frequent Service" but run every 15-20 minutes. It would be nice to know when my bus is going to arrive before leaving home so that I don't have to wait forever in the cold. |
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| Intangible |
This is the only thing that would actually be useful on a day to day basis for the subway. An application or mobile friendly site with a live update of when the next train is coming at each station.
Look at phone: 'next train to arrive in 2 minutes
"OH I THINK I CAN MAKE IT GOTTA RUN!"
Look at phone: 'train has arrived... next train to arrive in 5 minutes'
"OK, now I can walk..."
But emails.... the time it takes to check your email (unless you have a smartphone/BB) you might as well just experience the short delay at the station.
This would be even more useful for streetcars as they are soooo unpredictable. |
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| exstasie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
This is the only thing that would actually be useful on a day to day basis for the subway. An application or mobile friendly site with a live update of when the next train is coming at each station.
Look at phone: 'next train to arrive in 2 minutes
"OH I THINK I CAN MAKE IT GOTTA RUN!"
Look at phone: 'train has arrived... next train to arrive in 5 minutes'
"OK, now I can walk..."
But emails.... the time it takes to check your email (unless you have a smartphone/BB) you might as well just experience the short delay at the station.
This would be even more useful for streetcars as they are soooo unpredictable. |
Well i know there have been discussions about using GPS on buses (like what VIVA has).
You can see on a map where exactly a bus (or subway) currently is, and know when it'll arrive.
I love some of the European system when it'll tell you exactly how long until the next train arrives....one day I hope!
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| dEsidEL |
It's funny since the Toronto Transit site is known for providing system updates to the general public far in advance and on a more frequent and detailed basis than the TTC itself. They've also had an email newsletter service for some time already so a lot of what the TTC is rolling out is nothing knew, if not less than groundbreaking.
It's true that the mobility capability may add some value to this, but I only see this being the case if the updates are tied directly to the service levels of surface routes which have some of the most inconsistent arrival times due to road traffic and construction. It would be interesting if the TTC also provided their vehicle tracking GPS data online as well to offer even greater value that the e-alerts could tap into.
As many of you have already said, the wait intervals between subways is practically negligible to make such a service effective. There are talks about the subway potentially running on a 24 hr basis like 10 years from now (after the track switching upgrades are complete), so when that happens I can see platform train arrival times being more useful especially since most of the trains probably won't run less than 30 minutes apart during overnight hours. But none of this is even possible to begin with unless mobile network service is made available underground.
TTC complaints were actually up by 13% in 2008 while compliments were down by 6%.
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| tobywan |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
"OH I THINK I CAN MAKE IT GOTTA RUN!"
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Then you become one of those douches who tries to plow their way down the stairs or escalator, and sticks there arm in the door only to prompt the Subway Operator to call you out for being a douche. |
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| Skipper |
I signed up for this and haven't received a thing.
There is no way the TTC has operated for the last 4 hours since I signed up without a single disruption. It's statistically impossible. |
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| MikeyN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Skipper
I signed up for this and haven't received a thing.
There is no way the TTC has operated for the last 4 hours since I signed up without a single disruption. It's statistically impossible. |
I had 2 major issues in 25 minutes yesterday ! :whip: |
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