OOSTERZEE. 18.09.12. Software ace Justin Coetzee shows how accurate and user-friendly the train commuter information application is that he developed for cellphones. Picture Ian Landsberg OOSTERZEE. 18.09.12. Software ace Justin Coetzee shows how accurate and user-friendly the train commuter information application is that he developed for cellphones. Picture Ian Landsberg
Cape Town - A Cape Town man has developed a revolutionary mobile site which allows train travellers access to realtime information on delays.
Developed by Justin Coetzee as part of his Master’s thesis in transportation engineering, the site provides train timetables, schedule changes, service updates and other news to commuters.
He is in talks with the Golden Arrow bus service and is about to start negotiations with MyCiti to roll out a similar system. Coetzee is hoping that Metrorail will roll out the app in Gauteng in October.
Metrorail launched the first phase of the system this week.
Users access the site via gometro.co.za. A timetable pops up detailing when the next six trains are due with information on delays and how long one can expect to wait for the next train.
The final phase will provide a real-time, up-to-the-minute train schedules and associated platform changes. The full-fledged service will have specially-tailored software linked to the train schedules to automatically provide realtime timetable deviations.
Coetzee and his father, Ernst, founded mobi.lity 18 months ago with the goal of launching Go Metro.
The idea was born when he started using the train from Bellville to Century City.
“I was enjoying the train, but was frustrated by the lack of information when it came to planning my journey.”
It dawned on him that Metrorail had the necessary information as they would need to know where all their trains were at any given time.
He approached the company and, after a tender process, was awarded a no-cost tender.
As Metrorail is not paying him for providing the service, he is in the process of selling advertising space on the platforms.
He says 97 percent of commuters use Wap-enabled phones and 81 percent use their phones on the train. - Cape Argus