Public Transport Victoria tests tram of the future

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is testing a new analytics system on Melbourne's Yarra Trams, a first step toward the tram of the future. The trial is a partnership between PTV, Koelis Downer and Cisco. Launched as a demo for ITSWC, the trial uses cameras and analytics to count the people riding on trams and waiting at tram stops, and calculate typical journey times.
October 11, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Nicolas Gindt (left) of Yarra Trams and Jeroen Weimar of Public Transport Victoria

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is testing a new analytics system on Melbourne's 7525 Yarra Trams, a first step toward the tram of the future. The trial is a partnership between PTV, Koelis Downer and Cisco.

Launched as a demo for ITSWC, the trial uses cameras and analytics to count the people riding on trams and waiting at tram stops, and calculate typical journey times.

The technology is implemented on one tram and at three stops on the main route between the Convention Centre and the Yarra Trams control centre which is hosting a tour for World Congress. For the trial, PTV has deployed 1028 Cisco analytics software that can count riders, and identify both gender and the general age of each rider.

However, the system preserves rider privacy. It only collects general data about ridership, but no data on specific individuals. The cameras are not recording video, and no pictures are saved. Ultimately, the analytics could support the Yarra Trams Tramtracker app, which helps riders make travel decisions. This new technology would enable the app to provide travel information in real time. In addition, the data collected by the system can augment incident management and strategic planning for tram operations.

Jeff Sharp, group manager, technology and innovation, 7203 Downer Group explained the impetus for the project: “We asked the question: If we build a tram of the future, what would it look like?” This project may provide an answer.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Smart Cities: a journey, not a destination
    June 30, 2021
    As technologies evolve, cities of the future should prepare for expansion by establishing scal­able systems, suggest Benjamin Ho and James Birdsall of Parsons
    Read More
  • Developing integrated transport networks
    September 20, 2012
    A major initiative in managing numerous transport networks as a single system has moved into a significant phase with design of sophisticated new ITS systems. Jon Masters reports. Detailed design work is under way on two pilot projects pursuing a common principle – that transportation can be made more efficient or effective if the various networks and modes of travel are managed as a whole system. This is the central tenet of the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Integrated Corridor Management (ICM)
    Read More
  • Great (shared) mobility expectations
    December 19, 2024
    An invitation to attend Movmi's Shared Mobility Fall Masterclass changed the way Adam Hill looked at micromobility - in particular his own attitude to risk
    Read More
  • How can US transportation be ‘re-envisioned’?
    October 17, 2019
    In her address to this year’s ITS America Annual Meeting, congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, called for a ‘re-envisioning’ of transportation. Her speech is below – and ITS International asks a number of US experts what they would like to see ‘re-envisioned’…

    I would like to welcome  ITS America to the nation’s capital.

    Read More

Highlighted Content