[PR] Luas Noticeboards Upgraded at All Stops

Victor

http://www.rpa.ie/?id=308

Press release - Luas Noticeboards Upgraded at All Stops

The Railway Procurement Agency is pleased to announce that all Luas Customer Information Notice-boards have been up-graded to a very high specification.

Customer reaction to the initial information boards was extremely positive and the RPA with Veolia Transport Ireland undertook a significant review of the boards. The new boards include the highly popular “you are here” local map at every stop. These maps are now being used by tourist and local alike. The new boards will also feature details of local ticket agents along the route. Customers will get a precise address for the agent nearest to any individual stop. Bus and other connections which are designed to encourage an integrated approach to public transport are also featured at each stop.

In addition, a novel feature of this new service is a tram performance report which will be updated on a two-monthly basis. Veolia Transport Ireland and RPA are very proud of the performance of Luas since its arrival in 2004. Over 70,000 passenger trips are made on the Red and Green Lines every day. Customer satisfaction levels continue to be exceptionally high and a number of new lines are being developed under Transport 21. RPA and Veolia Transport Ireland are committed to maintaining this very high level of service and commits to publishing tram performance data on a two-monthly basis. The notice-boards will be updated to reflect these figures.

Frank Allen, Chief Executive Officer of the RPA welcomed the innovations: “The Railway Procurement Agency is determined to continue to give Luas customers a first-class service. The new notice-boards have been modified to take into account the needs of the customers and I am sure that the information will prove extremely valuable as the service develops.”

For more information, contact Ger Hannon on +353 (87) 9091229

MiniD

While the information boards are a great addition to stops, they still miss out some vital information regarding bus routes. In some cases they choose one bus route to place on the map, even though there may be another 5 or 6 major routes within walking distance. I know of one stop where the bus markings are on the wrong road. I would guess there was no consultation with Dublin Bus on these markings, which is just another example of a half-hearted approach to integrated transport.
Another important point is how a lot of the maps face the wrong way. In some cases, if you're at the platform, the map suggests the tram is travelling in the opposite direction, which is very confusing for first time users/tourists.

So delivering the statement:

The Railway Procurement Agency is pleased to announce that all Luas Customer Information Notice-boards have been up-graded to a very high specification.

is probably a bit premature at some stops.

Chris_533976

The new boards include the highly popular “you are here” local map at every stop.

hahaha the fact that this obviously wasnt there in the first place is LAUGHABLE. Anyone with a brain would put these here without even thinking.

BrianD

These are common place in most bus stops in European countries!!! Bizarre that the RPA think that this bit of basic information is so breathtaking that they have to be issuing a press release about it.

They might want to spend some time putting some useful signage and corporate ID in place for the Luas. Take Ranelagh station for example. There is nothing to indicate at street level that there is a tram station there. Some icon should be in place that makes it readily and quickly identifyable to the public. Most tram stops would also benefit from local finger posts.

I also notice that the recently completed rennovation of the southern end of Tara St station has no outside signage. There should be big signs stating Tara St. Station at the entrances to the station as in other countries. I really believe that a success criteria of public transport is highly visible branding. This is why it is a mistake to create brands like Luas, Arrow, Metro and Dart. There should be one unified brand for the city and for me the most appropriate is DART - like Boston has the 'T', Melbourne The Met, San Fran 'Muni' etc. etc.

Having said that the info maps are a useful and welcome addition to tram stops.

spacetweek

BrianD wrote:

These are common place in most bus stops in European countries!!! Bizarre that the RPA think that this bit of basic information is so breathtaking that they have to be issuing a press release about it.

I agree - this type of info is standard and issuing a press release is a bit rich, it's not a big deal and should have been in place from day 1.

I've noticed the signage problem myself, it's particularly bad on the Green line which often runs in a cutting and isn't easily visible from a lot of places. For example, coming out of Dundrum shopping centre towards Ballaly luas stop, there are no signs.

Victor

Chris_533976 wrote:

hahaha the fact that this obviously wasnt there in the first place is LAUGHABLE. Anyone with a brain would put these here without even thinking.

I loaned them my brain.

BrianD wrote:

These are common place in most bus stops in European countries!!!

Actually many dublin stops with shelters also have them, although they aren't the most sophisticated.

They might want to spend some time putting some useful signage and corporate ID in place for the Luas. Take Ranelagh station for example. There is nothing to indicate at street level that there is a tram station there. Some icon should be in place that makes it readily and quickly identifyable to the public. Most tram stops would also benefit from local finger posts.

But theres a big sign saying "Ranelagh"! Next to a Building with "Ranelagh" on it (Address:
Ranelagh, Building
Ranelagh, Street
Ranelagh, District
Dublin 6. Postode)