A New Generation of Tools at the Service of Passengers

Abstract

Thanks to developments embarked upon by the RATP since 1990, some particularly innovative tools have now been installed. This paper describes three applications stressing the fact that new Information Technologies are now playing a major part in the development of a third generation of Urban Transport : - contactless smartcard, a fare collection system with multipurpose applications, unmatched reliability and safety, and a very reduced maintenance-and-investment costs. - radio-location of véhiculés with an improved GPS for security, information of the passengers and regulation of buses. - means to provide passengers with exhaustive real time information on transport supply in the Paris area, at home, while waiting and during their journey. Such services are already made available to RATP voyagers, however their implementation largely overpasses the domain of public transport.