Caltrain saves staff time and improves rider information
Caltrain uses SimplifyTransit Alerts' Automated Late Trip Alerts feature to automatically notify riders about late trains on Twitter.
The alerts run 24/7/365, using arrival predictions from Caltrain's GTFS-realtime Trip Updates feed, the agency's GTFS, and customized template.
"The biggest benefit for our passengers is the after-hours and weekend information. It has also allowed us to move to other tasks. Until recently this was done manually by myself and a specialist, a taxing mental health exercise."
Jeremy Lipps
Riders are happy
Caltrain asked its Twitter followers if the automated delay tweets are helpful - the answer was a resounding "YES!"
The biggest benefit has been providing alerts at all the times they ride. People don't only ride transit when agency staff are working.
Real-Time 24/7
Previously, staff could only report delays on weekdays during business hours. Evening and weekend riders were left out.
More frequent Alerts
Staff had to transfer internal emails about delays to Twitter, but now they publish more tweets and have more time to promote Caltrain.
