Transport authorities took their first step toward creating the ‘station of the future’ when they brought internet connectivity to their transport systems. Meeting passengers’ expectations to message, stream and game on the go.

But consumer Wi-Fi is only part of the opportunity. Operators can cut costs, gain agility and attract more passengers by converting the high-capacity, highly available connectivity already deployed into a single, multipurpose platform to meet operational requirements and passenger needs.

Adopting a proactive approach

Public transport systems are in a constant state of evolution, from route expansions and station upgrades to the adoption of new payment systems, ticketing apps, advertising platforms, rider alerting systems and, over the last 2 years, safety protocols in response to COVID-19. While each change on its own is an improvement, it can be challenging for operations teams to manage multiple point solutions running on conflicting technologies. It is hard and time-consuming to introduce new innovations in this kind of heterogenous operations environment.

Leveraging the communications network as a multi-use platform makes it possible to gain a merged view of system-wide transit operations, helping eliminate technical barriers to modernization. Changing existing configurations or streamlining delivery of new features reduces costs as there is no need to duplicate or add redundant hardware to support various applications.

Transport authorities can use the mobile internet connectivity they have already deployed to connect experiences to systems, data to devices and analytics to infrastructure, creating a dynamic sense-and-respond system that lowers costs, increases flexibility and boosts ridership.

Giving ridership a boost

While millions of people rely on public transport as their sole means of travel, an equally sizeable number of people choose cars because they are faster or more direct, or cycle or walk because they are more environmentally friendly. In much the same way, online retailers compete for sales based on convenience; transit authorities must compete for riders by delivering a continually better experience at all points of their journeys.

Here again, operations analytics over the transit communications network can play a key role, helping deliver a smarter, safer and smoother experience. Aggregating anonymized data sources across various rider interaction points, such as visiting the transport authorities’ website or digital cards at turnstiles, can help authorities gain an understanding of how they can improve their passenger experience — and that better experience can convert into ridership growth.

Smart transit and the station of the future

Applications running over a smart transit network can convert individual stations and vehicles into smart hubs with monitoring, automation and real-time management, for better service and a better commuter experience — evolving them into true ‘stations of the future‘.

BAI Communications has the experience and solutions to help. Our single converged platform lets transport operations teams integrate legacy applications, data and hardware while simultaneously rolling out new innovations and services. With the pervasive connectivity enabled by the BAI platform, transit authorities can provide smart and seamless journeys to their passengers while adding smart and sensor-driven improvements to their network operations. Through the provision of a high-capacity, high-availability, multi-use communications network, transit authorities can become the catalyst for creating connected cities.

What is the station of the future?

By partnering with BAI Communications, transit authorities can become the catalyst for creating connected cities; enabling connectivity and economic growth through the provision of a high-capacity, high-availability, multi-use communications network.

Take a walk through our ‘station of the future,’ and see how the support of IoT and data-driven solutions can further benefit the passenger experience, strengthen your operational capability, and help you prepare for the introduction of 5G.