01.01.07
Hitachi passenger information systems
The Hitachi passenger information system is easy for station staff to operate, allowing the output of a wide range of information to indicator boards as required.
When timetables are altered, normally the details are entered via the operation management system (PTC system), but if there is a serious timetable disruption, changes cannot be made fast enough and route control is performed manually by control room staff.
The Hitachi system can deal with this extreme situation by providing the latest information about train operations along with automated passenger information by combining interlinked information with current line information.
The system status is monitored to ensure prompt recovery in case of failure or an accident, and functions are included to give warnings to maintenance staff if problems arise. Current information status can be checked to ensure that correct information is provided to passengers.
The following functions are provided, including functions intended to reduce station staff workload, in addition to the automatic announcement control and indicator board control functions essential for passenger information.
• the automatic announcement control creates announcement messages for each line from the departure sequence information and current line information, then outputs this to the loud speakers at the station. Six types of announcements are broadcast.
• the indicator board control function creates indicator messages (e.g. destination, approach and delay information) for each line from the departure sequence information and current line information, then outputs this to the indicator boards at the station. Information is displayed as departure sequence time, destination, and platform number on the concourse and platform system indicator boards.
• the message management function outputs message data to the indicator boards, displaying scrolling messages on the bottom row of the indicator board using date or time control from the central passenger information terminal or station passenger information terminal in case of suspended service or a delay.
• the passenger interface function sets, alters, and monitors control information for the station control system for passenger information and outputs an alarm if delay or failure information is detected.
• the passenger journal function collects input/output data for the loud speakers and indicator boards, and displays or prints out this data.
• the passenger maintenance function is used when expanding or altering the system. This alters the sound source, symbols, fonts, programs, and information timing factors for station passenger information systems.