page_title: Passenger information system
section_title: United States
hierarchical_section_title: Passenger information system / Examples / United States
caption_attribution_description: English: View of countdown clock sign at Lorimer Street station, Brooklyn, New York City Subway.
context_page_description: A passenger information system or passenger information display system is an automated system for supplying users of public transport with information about the nature and state of a public transport service, through visual, voice or other media. They are also known as Customer Information Systems and Operational Information Systems. Among the information provided by such systems, a distinction can be drawn between:
  Static or schedule information, which changes only occasionally and is typically used for journey planning prior to departure.
  Real time information, derived from automatic vehicle location systems, which changes continuously as a result of real-world events and is typically used during the course of a journey.
  Static information has traditionally been made available in printed form though route network maps and timetable booklets at transit stations. However most transit operators now also use integrated passenger information systems providing either schedule-based information through a journey planner application or schedule-based information in combination with real-time information.
context_section_description: Real time passenger information was brought to riders in the US by NextBus corporation, a small startup, in 1999. The first systems were installed in Emeryville, California, and later in San Francisco, California. As of 2012 both initial systems are still in operation.
  The Washington Metro installed a passenger information display system (PIDS) in all of its stations in 2000. The system provides real-time information on next train arrivals, delayed trains, emergency announcements, and related information. Metro also provides current train and related information to customers with conventional web browsers, as well as users of smartphones and other mobile devices. In 2010, Metro began sharing its PIDS data with outside software developers, for use in creating additional real-time applications for mobile devices. Free apps are available to the public on major mobile device software platforms (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Palm). The system also began providing real-time train information by phone in 2010.
  The New York City Subway began installing its public address/customer information screens, commonly known as "countdown clocks", in its stations in 2007. In 2012, the system began offering SubTime, a website and iPhone app for real-time train arrival estimates for several of its subway services, and the arrival data are shared with outside software developers to support creation of additional apps. There are also PIDS installed on some MTA Regional Bus Operations routes over the years, but mostly, the MTA offers real-time bus tracking through another website/app called MTA Bus Time.
  Amtrak has deployed PIDS throughout the Northeast Corridor. Boston MBTA and MBCR have also deployed PIDS.
  As of 2010, PIDS are being deployed with unified messaging, which can include information streamed to mobile devices, phones and translated directly to voice announcements. Text to Speech products have been designed to convert PIDS data to speech in a choice of over 20 languages.
caption: A PIDS at the Lorimer Street station of the New York City Subway
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