CTA: Train Tracker Arriving in January 2011

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority said that a pilot version of the CTA Train Tracker will be launched in early January.

Customers using desktop computers or mobile web-enabled devices will be able to access estimated arrival times for trains on all eight rail lines.

“Following the popularity of Bus Tracker, the CTA has been developing a similar tool for riders to get estimated arrival times for trains,” said Rodriguez. “We are just as eager as our customers for this pilot program to launch so that our rail customers have the information they need to better plan their trips and make their experience on the CTA even more convenient and reliable.”

Estimated arrival times will be generated through a combination of scheduling information and data collected by the CTA’s QuicTrak program, which monitors signaling systems and indicates when a portion of track is occupied by a train.

An average transit time is determined by measuring how long it takes a train to travel a portion of track. By averaging the travel times of the last five trains to move across a portion of track, the CTA can calculate the estimated arrival times for trains at each station.

To view estimated arrival times, customers will simply have to go to the dedicated website, select their preferred rail line and then choose a station. Arrival times of approaching trains within a 15-minute timeframe will be provided for the selected station, and results will refresh approximately every 20-30 seconds.

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