Ordnance Survey – Great Britain's national mapping agency

TfL® pilot underground map scheme

28 August 2007

Information centres that offer maps and travel advice via mobile phone are to be trialled on the London Underground. The Visualisation of Real-time Transport Interchange project will be run as a three month pilot scheme around Blackfriars Underground station.

The Transport for London (TfL) initiative will use near-field communication (NFC) technology, embedded in a number of 'touchpoint' posters around the station. These will then be able to interact with NFC-enabled phones.

The mapping information given will include directions to the next stage of the journey, how long the transfer will take, and when the next service should arrive.

The maps sent and advice given will cover all modes of transport in the vicinity of Blackfriars, including tube, national rail, buses and river services.

Dr Janko Mrsic-Flogel, head of mobile innovation at TfL, said: ‘The main aim of this trial is to ease the transition from one mode of public transport to another by giving passengers directions of where to go next and up-to-date travel connection details so that they are better informed.

‘We are integrating positions of underground trains, buses, railway and even riverboats to give the user accurate information on their best connection to their destination.’

TfL is a registered trademark of Transport for London.

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