Tube passengers will now get more accurate information about interchanges and wait times after Transport for London used WiFi data to boost the accuracy of its online Journey Planner tool.
Earlier this year TfL announced that it would collect depersonalised WiFi data at more than 260 London Underground stations with the aim of studying passenger flow and mapping the routes passengers take when walking through a station or switching trains or lines.
The information will also be used to boost the “effectiveness” of TfL’s advertising estate, supporting the agency’s aim of maximising commercial revenue.
Today the agency said its analysis of more than 2.7 billion pieces of depersonalised data had revealed scope to improve travel advice for journeys involving 55 stations, including adjusting the time needed to switch between lines at major interchange stations such as Baker Street, Canada Water, Earl’s Court and Notting Hill Gate.
Lauren Sager Weinstein, Chief Data Officer at Transport for London, said: “Our lives are now more data-rich than they have ever been and therefore we are working to use this data to allow our customers to better plan their journeys and find the best routes across our network.
“These changes to our online Journey Planner using depersonalised Wi-Fi data collection is just the start of wider improvements we are hoping to introduce which will provide better information to our customers and help us plan and operate our transport network more effectively for all.”
