Rail information providing an integrated on-line service

There is a demand for real-time customer information systems (CIS) at railway stations, stimulated by the desire to increase passenger revenues and by the franchise commitments placed on the train operating companies (TOCs). A real-time CIS is one which `knows´ the current location of trains, and uses this data to provide customers with predictions of actual arrival/departure times, rather than just timetable information. These systems should provide customers with consistent, timely and accurate information and are the subject of this paper