Passenger information

Information in 1909 in Berlin: "The Berlin Omnibus Company has posted officials at major traffic points in the city who provide information to the public."

Passenger information with dynamic text display

Indicator of the next departures of the light rail with a welcome greeting

Under passenger information refers to the transmission of operational information to users of public transport. A distinction must be made between information for advance planning (exploring routes, times, duration of the trip, tariffs, etc. before starting the trip) and information on site (i.e. after starting the trip: departure plans , car status indicators , overview of stops , electronic real-time information).

For a long time, the main source of information for rail traffic was, in addition to local notices such as timetables and general maps, the so-called course book , supplemented by information from the railway staff.

With the advent of EDP , passenger information systems supported in this way are increasingly being used, which enable current and extensive information. On the other hand, too much information is also controversial, for example automated tape announcements on connections that are only relevant for a small number of passengers and which other travelers cannot avoid. Such automatic announcements, which may be perceived as annoying, are also jokingly called " Blechelse ". In January 2020, Deutsche Bahn announced that announcements on platforms will in future be spoken by a male voice.

When the timetable changes, the changes are usually highlighted in a suitable form. Immediate, short-term deviations from the planned arrival and departure times can also be announced on computer-controlled display boards with ticker , so-called dynamic text indicators . This usually happens when the train is delayed or when the track changes.

Expressions

• Scoreboard
• Dynamic passenger information
• Consistent electronic timetable information
• Electronic timetable information
• Passenger information and management system (HHA)
• Timetable
• Train destination indicator

Web links

• Timetable information systems
• DEFAS (integrated electronic passenger information and connection security system) (PDF file; 3.05 MB)
• Tilmann Hattop: Video presentation on the economic benefits of passenger information from the perspective of transport companies. Technical University of Berlin, November 15, 2010

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Loud announcements: neighbors feel disturbed by the information from the railway , Der Tagesspiegel , January 24, 2013.
2. ↑ That's the man behind the voice , Focus online , January 7, 2020.