Monthly Archives: October 2015

RealTime Transit Status, Vehicle Positioning

Online Vehicle Tracking Software (Real Time)

Leave a comment

AddTransit’s online vehicle tracking software gives you cheap vehicle tracking in real time.  Combining the power of GPS equipped smartphones, the Internet and custom built cloud based software results in cheap vehicle tracking for your bus, transit or transport tourism business.

Online Vehicle Tracking

Using our apps or mobile Internet pages your drivers can login and choose their route and vehicle.  The GPS enabled smartphones then provide the position of the vehicle as they travel along the route.

The vehicles location can be viewed on AddTransit’s online vehicle tracking web pages in real time.  We can also use the GTFS (General Transit File Specification) real time format to provide the vehicle positions to App providers and Google Maps.

It’s quick to set-up, easy to use and good value.

Have a great day!

GTFS

Google Maps – Bus Directions, Bus Routes and Bus Schedules

Leave a comment

One of the great things about the advent of Google Maps is the ability to get not only only driving directions but also public transport directions.

Google Maps - Bus Directions, Routes &Schedules

Google uses GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) files from the bus companies to display bus routes, bus schedules and calculate bus directions.

A passenger just needs to enter their start location and their final destination into Google Maps and choose the public transport icon.  Google then shows the passenger the public transport options.  The bus route is shown on a map and alternate travel routes (if available).  Further drill down options exist to allow the passenger to see the schedule,  alternate trip times, basic fare information and transfer details.

The ubiquitous 24×7 nature of Google maps bus directions, means that wherever there is access to the Internet (e.g. PC, tablet or smartphone, etc.) a passenger can plan their journey.  No more out of date paper time tables and complex journey planning!

Additionally, if your journey destination changes midway you can recalculate an alternate route in moments and get there faster.

Have a great day!

GTFS

GTFS Editor, GTFS Validation Tool and GTFS Viewer

Leave a comment

There’s a number of challenges with the GTFS format.  One is the complexity in it’s simplicity.

Let me explain…..

The GTFS format uses a relatively old way of storing data.  The method is CSV.   Here’s what Wikipedia says:

A comma-separated values (CSV) file stores tabular data (numbers and text) in plain text. Each line of the file is a data record. Each record consists of one or more fields, separated by commas. The use of the comma as a field separator is the source of the name for this file format.  Comma-separated values is a data format that pre-dates personal computers by more than a decade: the IBM Fortran (level G) compiler under OS/360 supported them in 1967.

There’s a CSV file for each type of data (e.g. trips, routes, schedules, etc.) and these files are all zipped (a type of compression) to create a GTFS file.

The simplicity means that a GTFS file could be created with the use of the most basic editor and a program such as Winzip.

However the complexity comes, when you realise that each of the files have to reference each other.  MS Excel tools (GTFS xls tool) have been coded but they are limited in their functionality and lack in inherent strength that GTFS brings with online maps.

GTFS Validation, GTFS Editor and GTFS Tool. Get schedules on Maps

That’s why we created AddTransit.  Our software includes a GTFS builder, GTFS validation tool and a GTFS editor with maps to view the locations and routes.  Our software removes the need for you to worry about files, zipping and cross referencing between files.  We provide warnings if there is gaps with the aim of making your job easier.

This allows you to focus on your schedules and routes, and let’s you leave the intricacies of GTFS to us.  Here’s the AddTransit GTFS Tools signup link if you want to Get Started.

Have a great day.

 

GTFS

Cheap GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification)

Leave a comment

For many companies creating and maintaining a GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) feed can be seen as a costly exercise.  Existing processes are focussed on paper based schedules, booklets and posters and more recently on bespoke solutions for the companies website in text, PDF, graphical or even interactive formats.

The provision of a GTFS feed is seen as a new expense and it could be associated with expensive software solutions and consultants.

But, that doesn’t need to be the case.

A GTFS solution actually allows you to reduce effort and whilst getting greater coverage of potential customers.  Google’s, Apple’s and Yahoo’s maps software is now in daily use and most passengers are moving to smartphones which have a growing number of transit apps.  All these services can provide your schedules from your GTFS file.  Additionally you can include standard code on your websites that will provide interactive schedules and maps, that also use your GTFS file.

As your schedule becomes available in many more ways using the same GTFS file and common software, your paper based schedules can be reduced and your schedule software development costs reduced.

At AddTransit, we recognised the need for cheap GTFS so we make it easy to create, distribute and maintain the file.  Our focus is on providing value for money regardless of whether you are a single shuttle bus, a fleet of ferries or a large public transport system.

We want to make your GTFS experience great (and cheap), so contact us today to find out more.

Have a great day.

Online Ticketing

AddTransit’s Online Ticket Reservation System

Leave a comment

AddTransit’s online ticket reservation system is focussed on the  public transport, transit and travel based tourism industries.  The web based ticket reservation software provides a 24 x 7 customer sales channel allowing you to serve your passengers whenever and wherever it best suits them.

Online Ticket Reservation System

So how does it work? Let’s use the example of a bus company, but it could easily be a ferry, plane, train or travel tourism/sightseeing provider.

Online ticket reservation system set up

Firstly, the bus company adds their routes and schedule.  Then the company adds their fares.  Finally the company adds any restrictions such as vehicle capacity and preferred number of tickets for online versus offline sales.

Then the company chooses how they’d like to receive fare payments and their preferred frequency of payment.  Of course, terms & conditions, customer service contact details, and exceptions/alterations handling can be entered too!

AddTransit automatically generates a small snippet of code to include in the companies website and the company is ready to start making sales.  Tickets can be sold from the bus company’s website, through the AddTransit apps or you can even upgrade to a branded ticketing app.

Book Reservations and buy Tickets online

Customers can then make reservations and purchase tickets online.  A ticket is emailed to the purchaser with the option to print the ticket, if the customer so chooses.  The ticket includes a bar code to make it easily scannable by the AddTransit ticket management app.

The cost of the AddTransit service is borne by the customer through an additional service fee at time of purchase.

Reporting is available on the website.  Passenger manifests are also available within the AddTransit ticket management app.  Customers can also manage their tickets and update selected details online.

If you’d like to know more our online ticket reservation system, please contact us today.