Mobile 'Travel Advisor' Tested on London's Tube Networks

Transport for London, the government organisation responsible for London's Public Transport, is testing the potential for near field technology to transmit real-time travellers on the tube network..

London's Blackfriars station is the site of a three-month trial using near field communication (NFC) technology embedded in 'touchpoint' posters to transmit travel advice to the public.

When a passenger places their mobile against a poster, it will pinpoint their exact location and transmit detailed information, including where to go to make the next stage of the journey, how to get there, how long the transfer will take and when the next service will arrive.

"The transfer from one mode of transport to another is the most difficult part of a journey," a Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson told GC News on Friday.

"This system is about providing accurate, real-time information for passengers. It covers all modes of transport near Blackfriars, including the Tube, rail, bus and river services."

Passengers can touch the poster and receive information about travel to a particular destination, including local attractions and landmarks. The posters do not require a power source, but instead are powered by induction from the mobile-phone handset.

The project, named 'Vortix' (Visualisation of Real-Time Transport Interchange), is a collaboration between Transport for London, Imperial College London and transport intelligence company Kizoom.

Mike Beizsley, who is leading Vortix, said: "This trial is a European first for providing customer in-journey information via NFC. It is an exciting step for TfL's real-time programme's aim of delivering a new generation of timely, multi-modal and personalised information to its passengers."

Future rollout of Vortix will be assessed after the completion of the trial.