Electronic information at tram/bus stops

[Hook 10]

The age of the tram doesn't matter.

 

You can put a GPS in a 100 year old car.

 

It just isn't that simple, the devices on the trams apparently interface with the technology that provides the announcements and destinations. In order to provide accurate tracking information every journey has a different journey ID code. This allows the tracking system to know exactly where each tram is and therefore attempt to calculate how long it will take to reach the stop.

 

The units on the trams struggle to handle all this information and the limited bandwidth of the GPRS system the PTE installed means the system struggles. If it was as simple as installing GPS on the tram don't you think they would have taken that option? I'm sure they don't deliberately sit in the depot and wonder how they can make life more difficult for passengers. They want it to work as much as our mere mortals do.

 

---------- Post added 06-01-2017 at 13:20 ----------

 

 

The design life for these vehicles is 35yrs at which point they will likely have to undergo another rebuild to extend that - that will be for the next holder of the concession to worry about.

 

 

Actually the PTE are currently looking at securing funding to replace the vehicles.

[vincentb 10]

One thing in their favour compared to Trains/Buses which has been the main driving force in fleet renewal over the last ten years is that they're never going to fall fowl of tough emissions legislation or non DDA compliance.

 

Their emissions appear elsewhere.

 

They do, but it's a lot easier to reduce and/or filter the emissions when you're working at the scale of a power station.

[dutch 68]

Was waiting for a tram two days ago. Arrived and tram was supposed to be 8 min, checked my watch and in 5 minutes it had counted down to 1 and in 30 seconds it started to show due as the tram was actually stopping.

This type of error was never that usual over summer. I think they are playing games with the system.

[Jerky 10]

It has never worked properly, its been a couple of years now and still they cant fix it. It is a joke that sypte have not fixed it.They seem happy to carry on regardless. Meanwhile, down in London, the same system works every day and is accurate. I dont bother looking at them now, the trams coming when you can see the tram !

[Hook 10]

Was waiting for a tram two days ago. Arrived and tram was supposed to be 8 min, checked my watch and in 5 minutes it had counted down to 1 and in 30 seconds it started to show due as the tram was actually stopping.

This type of error was never that usual over summer. I think they are playing games with the system.

 

It's been doing that since at least the summer when I started to use the trams to commute. It certainly isn't a new thing.

[cgksheff 44]

Local Authority incompetence means our money spent on something that is not fit for purpose.

 

Nothing new here, then.

[smiggs 10]

 

Actually the PTE are currently looking at securing funding to replace the vehicles.

 

Given how long it takes the public sector to secure funding and tender for contracts it seems prudent to start looking at funding for something that will be needed in ten years now.

[Hook 10]

Given how long it takes the public sector to secure funding and tender for contracts it seems prudent to start looking at funding for something that will be needed in ten years now.

 

The procurement speed of the city link vehicles would suggest otherwise.

 

There's some more info on the plans here http://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2016/09/news-5095-future-of-supertram.html?m=1

[the_bloke 17]

If it was as simple as installing GPS on the tram don't you think they would have taken that option?

 

It's obvious that was one of the available options but would have cost more money than trying to piggy back on the existing system that wasn't meant to be used in such a way.

 

The current system is poor because of cost, not because there wasn't an alternative.

[Hook 10]

It's obvious that was one of the available options but would have cost more money than trying to piggy back on the existing system that wasn't meant to be used in such a way.

 

The current system is poor because of cost, not because there wasn't an alternative.

 

Which was a decision made by the PTE (who own the infrastructure and lease the trams from HSBC).

[Justin Smith 10]

Actually the PTE are currently looking at securing funding to replace the vehicles.

 

What`s the betting they`re less comfortable than the present ones ! That`s the trend as far as most rail vehicles is concerned......

[dutch 68]

The information was a total mess again yesterday. You might as well make a guess and flip a coin.