Strukton Systems will deliver the vehicle position systems for the 54 new ‘Citadis II’ trams that will run on the TramPlus lines in Rotterdam. Strukton Systems will do so for the RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram), the main public transport operator in Rotterdam.

TramPlus and DPI
Since 1995, Strukton Systems has developed and delivered a Dynamic Passenger Information (DPI) system for the successive TramPlus lines that have been realised in Rotterdam. TramPlus is the Rotterdam concept for high-quality tram lines with higher speeds than normal tram lines. The DPI system developed by Strukton contributes to the quality by presenting real time expected departure times at all stops.

Vehicle position systems
Position finding of vehicles is the basis of reliable dynamic passenger information. Strukton’s system determines the position of the vehicles by combining GPS and data from an odometer, a device used for indicating distance travelled by a vehicle. The vehicle transfers this combined information wirelessly to the central system, using short-wave radio communication or GPRS. The DPI then predicts the expected departure time by combining the real-time vehicle positions with the scheduled times.

Since 1995, Strukton Systems has installed its DPI system on approximately 80 trams and 175 stops on 5 TramPlus lines. Strukton Systems will add the 60 new ‘Citadis II’ trams between January and November 2009.