Public Transport Information and Priority System: Difference between revisions

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The '''Public Transport Information and Priority System''', abbreviated '''PTIPS''',

is a computer-based system used in New South Wales, Australia, that brings together information about public transport entities, such as buses, ferries, trams etc. Where applicable, PTIPS can also provide transport vehicles with priority at traffic signals.

PTIPS consists of a number of hardware and software components installed on-board buses which wirelessly communicate with a central set of servers. PTIPS also relies on an interface with [[Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System]] ([[SCATS]]) - to provide the priority feature) and bus/route/timetable data provided by bus organisations and government authorities.

PTIPS provides:

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* Traffic light priority for late running buses

* Bus/Timetable performance and reliability reports

* Real-time Bus arrival information for bus stops

==How PTIPS Works==

==How PTIPS Worksworks==

PTIPS works by combining, on the one hand, schedule and route path information for buses performing timetabled services (as opposed to, say, charter trips), and on the other hand, live ___location data transmitted by the buses to PTIPS.

PTIPS receives XML data files from the public and private bus operators, which contain information relating to planned trips (for example, route paths, trips & schedules, bus stops etc.)

Each bus that PTIPS tracks is equipped with a hardware device that records its ___location via [[Global Positioning System|GPS]], and transmits it to the central PTIPS servers via the 3Gcellular radio communications network. Buses transmit these messages at certain intervals (which are configurable, and which vary depending on what the bus is doing), and also when they pass certain points along their intended route. Apart from GPS ___location, the transmitted messages also include information about the vehicle and which trip it is doing.

With the above information, PTIPS can compare the ___location of a bus performing a certain trip, at a certain point in time, with where it should be, based on the planned route and timetable data.

==Real time apps==

[[Transport for NSW]] worked with several developers in late 2012 to create, and release smartphone applications with access to the real-time bus data provided from PTIPS. Released in December, several [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] apps went live on their respective [[App store]]s, allowing customers to track where their buses were in real-time, as well as any delays or timetable changes as they occur. It was initially trialled on [[State Transit Authority|Sydney Buses']] [[Sydney bus route 400|route 400]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130118023918/http://www.sydneybuses.info/news/new-apps-with-real-time-bus-information New apps with real time bus information] [[State Transit Authority|Sydney Buses]] 18 December 2012</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070811215204/http://www.transportroundtable.com.au/sut3/abstracts/64-lake.html PTIPS Electronic Bus Priority Trial in Sydney] Smart Urban Transport</ref>

In 2013, this real-time data was further expanded to provide live information from [[Sydney Trains]], and private bus operators [[Hillsbus]] and [[Busways]] Blacktown, and was eventually rolled out across bus operators in Greater Sydney.

[[Transport for NSW|TfNSW]] worked with several developers in late 2012 to create, and release smartphone applications with access to the realtime bus data provided from PTIPS. Currently, only [[Sydney Buses]] operating in Inner Sydney including South Harbour, Inner North, and Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs (Bus regions 6 - 9) have data available.

In 2020, Transport for NSW started working with bus operators to introduce real-time tracking to regional bus services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NSW |first=Transport for |date=2020-07-23 |title=Real-time bus tracking new reality for regional NSW |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/11138 |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.transport.nsw.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> As of March 2022, PTIPS-assisted real-time tracking was available for the regional centres of [[Albury]], [[Armidale]], [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]], [[Bega, New South Wales|Bega]], [[Coffs Harbour]], [[Dubbo]], [[Forbes, New South Wales|Forbes]], [[Grafton, New South Wales|Grafton]], [[Nowra]], [[Parkes, New South Wales|Parkes]], [[Port Macquarie]], [[Queanbeyan]], [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]], [[Tweed Heads]] and [[Wagga Wagga]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230307060300/https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/digital-bus-travel-improvements-for-albury-greater-nowra-tamworth-0 Real-time trip updates and digital timetables for Albury, Greater Nowra and Tamworth] Transport for NSW 29 March 2022</ref>

Released in December 2012, several [[iOS]] and [[Android]] apps went live on their respective App Stores, allowing customers to open the apps, and track where their buses were in realtime, as well as any delays or timetable changes as they occur. In 2013, this realtime data was further expanded to provide live train information from [[CityRail]] as well.

==References==

{{refbegin}}

<div class="references-small">

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110423000930/http://data.nsw.gov.au/files/real-time-bus-stop-description-data-datadescription.pdf DetailsSample of Realtime Data] [[Government of New South Wales]]

*[http://www.transportroundtablerta.comnsw.gov.au/sut3doingbusinesswithus/abstractstenderscontracts/64-lakecontractsawarded/trafficmanagement/less/20051106184046258981.html PTIPS ElectronicContract BusID: PriorityPTIPS] Trial[[Roads in& Sydney,Traffic AustraliaAuthority]]. Retrieved on 16 April 2007.

*[http://www.rtasmh.nsw.govcom.au/doingbusinesswithusnews/tenderscontractsnational/contractsawardedpriority-bus-green-lights-scrapped/trafficmanagement2007/less04/2005110618404625898111/1175971183194.html Priority Contractbus ID:green PTIPS,lights NSWscrapped] Roads''[[Sydney andMorning Traffic AuthorityHerald].]'' Retrieved on 16 April 2007.

{{refend}}

*Besser, Linton: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/priority-bus-green-lights-scrapped/2007/04/11/1175971183194.html Priority bus green lights scrapped]. Retrieved on 16 April 2007.

{{reflist}}

*[http://www.sydneybuses.info/news/new-apps-with-real-time-bus-information New apps with real time bus information]<references/></div>

==See also==

*[[T-way]]

*[[State Transit Authority of New South Wales]]

*[[Roads and Traffic Authority]]

*[[SCATS]]

==External links==

*[http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW]

*[http://www.scats.com.au/ SCATS Website]

[[Category:Bus transport in New South Wales]]

[[Category:Intelligent transportation systems]]

[[Category:Bus transport in New South Wales]]