The TTC’s first “Next Train Arrival” sign is now in operation for a 90-day pilot at Dundas Station. TTC Chair Adam Giambrone introduced the new sign at a news conference on Sept. 4.

Customers can now find out how many minutes they will have to wait until the next subway train pulls into the station. While service without disruptions is easy to predict – two-and-a-half minutes during rush hour and five minutes at other times – next train notification will prove most beneficial when there are delays in the system. The information is located on the bottom of the OneStop platform video screens.

The pilot was developed by a special IT Services project team. The team used existing train signalling and control systems as input, specifically, the location of the train, average speed and station sequence into the prediction application.

The 90-day time period will allow IT Services to fine-tune the prediction application. The final roll-out plans will be finalized while the pilot is in progress. All subway stations are scheduled to have the Next Train Arrival system in place by the end of 2009. The cost of the pilot project is $330,000.

Next bus arrival signs are on their way as well. At last August’s Commission meeting, the TTC awarded a contract for the installation of next bus arrival and streetcar signs, with this system to be deployed in 2008-2009.