Sustainable and digital - the new dynamic passenger information from STOAG

In Oberhausen, 45 new dynamic passenger information was installed at 24 stops during Christmas week. Two other displays are used “mobile”, i.e. at alternative stops and diversions.

No electricity - no problem
This technology, labeled “light” and completely new for Oberhausen, does not require a cable connection and can therefore be used at every stop, even if no power connection is available. Power is supplied by a small solar cell on top of the display. Inside the display there is a buffer battery that ensures the power supply, even when the sun is not shining. The indicators receive the data via a 5G cellular modem, so that no cables have to be laid for this either.

Information - where it is needed
With this technology, STOAG now has the opportunity for the first time to install up-to-date passenger information even at non-central stops. More than the already existing mast is not necessary for assembly. In the event of traffic disruptions around the Westfield Centro, passengers can now also be informed directly at the bus stop. But the new indicators have also been installed at other stops with greater demand and at important excursion destinations *.

E-paper - as printed
The display technology is comparable to an e-book reader. At first glance, these displays look like a printed sheet of paper. The display is extremely high-contrast, the contrast even increases when exposed to sunlight, unlike, for example, on a smartphone. With this extremely energy-saving technology, however, a quick text change is not possible, so that no ticker tape can be displayed. Information texts are therefore shown in a slightly abbreviated form as fixed text as the last line in the display.

Data - also from the neighbors
The DFO light displays receive their data directly from the data hub of the VRR. This means that the journeys of other transport companies can also be displayed right from the start when they approach the STOAG stops.

DFO - the tried and tested
But the well-known dynamic passenger information displays have not yet had their day. On the contrary - in the next few weeks STOAG 17 will install more of these displays in the familiar design. At larger stops with a higher number of passengers, these displays are still the better choice today, as they can be read from a greater distance thanks to the tried and tested LED technology and can also display dynamic scrolling texts. These displays are also set up at the Hauptbahnhof / RIM, Obermeiderich Bahnhof, Wittekindstraße stops, for example. In total, STOAG will then have 169 displays at stops in the city. The first indicators were installed in the early XNUMXs.

ITCS - information bundled
In the course of this year, STOAG will upgrade its new digital radio system to an ITCS (Integrated Transport Control System). This means that all customer information channels are bundled centrally. This means that STOAG's passenger information will soon be even more precise and "to the point", both on site at the bus stop, on the Internet and, of course, in the STOAG app.

Financing - with the help of the land
The total costs of the measure amount to around € 580.000; 90% of the measure is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The funding comes from the state economic stimulus package North Rhine-Westphalia Program I to cope with the consequences of the corona pandemic and to strengthen the future viability of the state, special program municipal infrastructure (serial no. 131).

24 locations for 45 DFO-light displays
Aquapark, Arminstraße, Babcock Werk 1, Bero-Zentrum Süd, Einbleckstraße, electric steelworks, Weierheide amusement park, Hans-Sachs-Kolleg, Haus Ripshorst, Jägerstraße, Josefstraße, Kiebitzstraße, Ludwigshütte, Marienkirche, Marina / Sealife, Ripshorster Straße, Sandgathe, Oberhausen Castle , Theodor-Spiering-Platz, TZU, Uhlandstraße, Umsicht, Weierstraße, Ziesakplaza