The first stage of a new transit link to the north-western suburbs of Sydney opened in 2019 - the first stage of an ambitious metro project aimed at improving travel in the bustling metropolis.
The new Sydney Metro, scheduled to be completed in 2024, is Australia’s first driverless metro line. Eventually it will encompass 31 stations, more than 66 kilometers of new rail and increase the capacity of the city train network by almost 60%, carrying about 40,000 passengers per hour. The new network will also offer a vast improvement on existing service levels, with trains scheduled to arrive every two minutes, revolutionizing travel for city commuters.
On the first 36-kilometer stretch, arrivals and departures will be notified with live updates provided by energy-efficient, solar powered Visionect e-Paper signs.
Sydney has long been at the forefront of the digital signage revolution, utilizing electronic paper for self-sufficient, accessible and wire-free signage for transport infrastructure.
It was not altogether surprising therefore, that the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro project was looking for the most efficient and user-friendly means of delivering real-time travel information at metro stations to ensure commuters were kept well informed of train arrival status at all stages during their journey.
The e-Paper Urban bus stop module, designed by Sydney’s Mercury Innovation and powered by Visionect, became the obvious choice for Sydney’s major transportation project. It had already more than demonstrated its value in the field, by providing passenger information for Sydneysiders taking the Station Link train replacement bus service.
Installed along 50 urban bus stops on the Sydney Metro Northwest line, it was the biggest deployment of these smart signs anywhere in the world at the time, which now displays interchange bus departure times at each metro station.
Each e-Paper Urban unit is totally waterproof and tamper-resistant, its dual 13-inch electronic paper screens offering paperlike readability even in bright sunlight. At night, the bus stop signs are illuminated with a frontlight for uninterrupted visibility.
With installation basically requiring just a bunch of nuts and bolts, (plus the solar panel with battery and controller to supply localized power) the Urban e-Paper units can be situated anywhere - no need for overhead wires or trenching to lay power or data cables.
Most importantly, in this age with concerns for energy reduction and use of renewable energy resources, the Urban units are totally solar-powered, consuming minuscule amounts of power, and completely independent from the city’s electrical grid. What could be more sustainable than electronic smart signs that use 99% less power than LCD or LED and run on a natural resource that Australia has in abundance?
Looking to improve service notifications on bus or train metro lines in your city? Contact us for more information on these innovative, energy efficient e-Paper Urban modules.
