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Metrorail and Go Metro launch mobi-site for commuters
Metrorail Western Cape has announced a new mobile information service to its commuters. As part of the region's Programme of Action (PoA) service improvement initiative, Metrorail Western Cape has partnered with a South African technology start-up company, mobi.lity, to launch Go Metro.
The mobile website, a digital resource for commuters, goes public in two phases. The initial service provides train timetables, schedule changes, service updates and other news to commuters, while the final phase will provide a real-time, up to the minute train schedules and associated platform changes. The fully-fledged service will have specifically tailored software linked to the train schedules to automatically provide real time timetable deviations.
Access train schedules
With the new service in its current format, commuters can already access easy-to-use train schedules, a trip planner and fare calculator on www.gometro.co.za. General information like route maps, terms and conditions of travel, tourist and business services are also on hand. The site is regularly updated with changes to the scheduled service, reflects average delays per service corridor and daily maintenance programme.
Justin Coetzee, founder of Go Metro, believes that Go Metro puts Metrorail Western Cape on a par with transportation services around the world. The next few months will provide commuters with the opportunity to test the service in its current format. Coetzee says his team welcomes feedback to enable them to improve the final product. "We encourage commuters to test the service and to provide feedback via the feedback channel on the site."
Lack of mobile tool
He admits that as a regular Metrorail commuter himself, he was frustrated by the lack of a mobile tool that would tell him when the next train would arrive. "Since there was no mobile tool in the market to provide this type of information, my team and I developed it ourselves. The final product will provide real time Metrorail train departure times to smart phones and feature phones."
Go Metro will work on all types of phones, both smart phones and feature phones - any phone with Internet access can find Go Metro. Simply access the phone's Internet browser, type in www.gometro.co.za and enjoy the experience of information. The fully-fledged service is scheduled to be ready early 2013.
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