Picture this scenario: Your rail service comes to a standstill. Passengers are confused, and drivers and operators need reliable instruction. Dispatchers and controllers gain focus and need the right system tools to recover service.
In the event of a rail service outage, passengers expect their transit service to continue. With MOBILE-ITCS, agencies can easily create a shuttle service to carry a large volume of passengers at intervals.
The Substitute Service, or “Bus Bridge” measure, allows dispatchers to create a shuttle service to carry passengers to a planned transfer location. With a few clicks, a new service is created and can be assigned to any vehicle prepared to handle the passenger load.
A rail outage is the most common circumstance where this Substitute Service measure can be used. If there is a specific, high-volume location that will benefit from an unexpected shuttle service, the data required to shuttle from the location can be regularly provided within the system schedule and ready for assignment. The service will expire at a defined time after the measure is complete.
The Substitute Service data can remain regularly loaded in the schedule when it is not used. It can be activated and deployed on-demand by a dispatcher or controller. The purpose of this tool is to dynamically create the services needed when there is an unexpected event.
Overcrowding at an event? The Substitute Service function can help plan accordingly. Large events generally happen at specific locations: stadiums, coliseums, civic centers, etc. Giving the power to a dispatcher or controller to dynamically control the parameters of a shuttle service can help to reduce the amount of time required to plan a fixed route service before the schedule data is loaded into the system. The number of vehicles and defined frequency can be identified before the Substitute Service is created.
The operator then receives instruction once the Substitute Service is assigned. The routing, navigation instructions, and stop itinerary are displayed with on board functions consistent to normal fixed route service. This helps to achieve consistent instruction to the operators.
With Substitute Service, transportation providers can be prepared for even the most inconvenient disruptions – from service outages, to large events, or whatever else reality throws your way.
