The TTC unveiled its new Next Train Arrival feature at Dundas station Thursday, Sept. 4, with screens already situated at the station telling riders how long it will be until the next subway reaches the station.
The system uses the existing TTC signalling and control system to help determine arrival times, giving riders the added benefit of knowing how long their wait will be.
The system replaces a defunct dial-in program that went down during Y2K.
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone said the Next Train feature will be a valuable addition to TTC service, particularly if additional features are added.
"We're going to actually look at possibly telling people when the train after (the next train) is coming," he said. "That's useful, especially on packed trains, so people can decide whether to just wait for the next one."
Giambrone expects that will reduce crowding on many trains and decrease incidences of people rushing subway doors as they close or blocking the doors and preventing them from closing.
After a 90-day trial run at Dundas station, during which the TTC will work out any kinks in the system, Next Train Arrival will be rolled out across the subway line.
Development and implementation of the Next Train feature will cost $330,000.
"This will end up costing about $5,000 a station, and with each station serving 10 to 20,000 riders a day, I think it's a pretty sound investment," Giambrone said.
More valuable still will be the Next Bus system that will be deployed this year and next. That will serve bus and streetcar riders in the same fashion, telling them when the next bus will be arriving using GPS technology.
"When it's minus 20 out and you're waiting for the Finch 36 (bus), you want to know whether to wait at the stop or go to Tim Horton's for a coffee," he said.
Knowing when the next bus or streetcar will arrive can also help riders know when to change routes and take a different bus or streetcar line to reach their destination more quickly.
The $9,920,000 Next Bus contract was awarded to Grey Island Systems International at the TTC's Aug. 27 meeting.
The Next Train and Next Bus features are part of an overall plan that will include trip planner and email and text message alerts to notify riders of potential delays or problems along the transit line.