Real Time Sign Upgrade

Auckland Transport is making improvements to service and disruption information it provides to public transport passengers.

We have introduced new information services for mobile phones including iPhone and Android phone apps and a mobile site designed for easier smartphone use. (Click here for more for about these services) (http://www.maxx.co.nz/info/how-to-travel/mobile-services.aspx)

In addition, more electronic signs are being installed at bus and rail stops around Auckland, including new solar powered bus signs specially designed for lower patronage stops.

New and existing signs at train stations will soon show real time train information for the first time, allowing waiting customers to see when their next train is due.

This real time information will also be accessible on our mobile phone services and the MAXX website.

Real time information

New GPS vehicle tracking will soon provide true real time information to passengers. This will allow for more accurate predictions of arrival/departure times for buses, trains and ferries at bus stops, train stations and ferry terminals, on the MAXX website's Live Departure Board, and using the MAXX mobile phone services. These timings will be updated as things change, including delays and disruptions effecting services at your stop.

For each service, in addition to the details about the route, you will see the scheduled time for that service to be arriving at or departing from your stop.

You will see in the "Due" column a countdown of the minutes to go until the bus, train or ferry is predicted to arrive/depart, based on its current location, speed & direction.

Once this new real time information system is operating, changes will be made to all the existing electronic signs, to accommodate the new information that will be displayed.

The information on the signs at train stations will be displayed as below, showing the scheduled time as well as the expected due time of the train:

Train-Real-time

When a service is cancelled, you will see a "C" instead of a countdown for that service.
Where we have lost track of a vehicle, and cannot currently predict its arrival or departure time, you will only see the scheduled time for that service - the "Due" information will be blank.
When the arrival / departure of the bus, train or ferry is imminent (typically within the next one to two minutes) the minutes to go displayed in the "Due" column will be replaced with an asterisk (*).
You will no longer see a long list of all the stops where the train is stopping. In its place you will see whether the service is via Glen Innes or Newmarket, and if it is a Limited Stops service this will be indicated.
Destination names and abbreviations are being standardized, so for example, you will no longer see some bus services advertised as going to "MIDTWN" and some "MDTOWN" and some "MIDTOWN".

All the following abbreviations are explained in white decals at the bottom of signs:

Rail Only:

/N = Via Newmarket. This will only be used if the number of characters for the destination of a service exceeds the number that can be displayed on the train station signs.

/GI = Via Glen Innes. This will only be used if the number of characters for the destination of a service exceeds the number that can be displayed on the train station signs.

/LS = Limited Service. This will only be used if the number of characters for the destination of a service exceeds the number that can be displayed on the train station signs.

Bus Only:

X = Express service.