The Reliability of Transit Service: An historical Perspective

Public transit systems have relied upon technology to improve their performance, labor productivity, and passenger appeal . Today's modern air conditioned vehicles, enhanced passenger information at stations, and improved communication and control systems, augmented by faster service and reduced vehicle crowding, help make public transit an attractive choice for many people. This paper provides a historical perspective of changes in service control techniques and technologies that have been used to monitor transit service and improve its reliability. It demonstrates how the methods evolved as they reflected continued advances in electronic communications and location technologies. The paper traces the evolution of surface and rapid transit service control methods and suggests what lies ahead.