Development of a Real-Time Stringlines Tool to Visualize Subway Operations and Manage Service at New York City Transit

In 2013, with real-time train arrival data becoming widely available through its general transit feed specification real-time (GTFS-RT) feed, New York City Transit (NYCT) recognized the potential for new service management tools capable of on-the-fly performance visualization and reporting. This paper describes the process taken by NYCT to develop and evaluate a transit analysis tool that uses information from automatic train supervision countdown clocks, transmitted as GTFS-RT data, to visualize train spacing, movement, and related parameters. The main part of this tool is a new web application that uses stringline (time–distance) charts for monitoring operations in the system as they happen. Operational problems (e.g., delays, train bunching, or gaps in service) can be identified more easily on stringline charts than on the traditional model board display to help managers and operating personnel deliver continuous service performance improvements. The application was built in-house with the use of exist...