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What if you knew how long you would be waiting for the train in traffic?

The city of London is prototyping a train monitoring system that involves both digital screens on roads and mobile apps that would let drivers know when a train is either on its way, or already on the tracks. It's called "Trainfo" - a system already in use in Winnipeg.

Soon drivers will know. The city is testing equipment to gather train info to post on a digital screen

CBC News ·
Two rail lines cut through London's downtown core. (Colin Butler/ CBC News)

Londoners know well the headache that can result when a car trip gets de-railed due to a train cutting across their path. 

Now city staff are on track with a plan that may alleviate the problem. They've started the process to prototype both digital screens en route and mobile apps that would let drivers know when a train is either on its way, or already on the tracks.

It's called "Trainfo" - a system already in use in Winnipeg. 

Shane McGuire, London's division manager of roadway lighting and traffic control, explains the system has proven to be very popular there, and London is one of a few Canadian municipalities trying it out. 

"We're testing the equipment at the moment to see how it's working in predicting when the trains are going to arrive and how long the trains are going to be in place," explains Mcguire Monday on London Morning.

Boxes have been in place for a week now at the CP crossings on both Adelaide and Richmond streets. The solar-powered devices are gathering data through a microphone that monitors and analyzes train sounds. After about nine months, the system is expected to be ready to launch.
The solar-powered devices are already installed at the Richmond and Adelaide Street crossings to gather data through a microphone to monitor train sounds. (Colin Butler )

McGuire says digital signs with messaging about trains would be installed near the tracks, but far enough away that drivers would have an option to take an alternate route. The same applies for mobile systems that would work through traffic GPS systems.

"The data can be pushed out to mobile apps .. and people could then see on their route before they get there that there's a train going to be there or the train is already there, and they can make that choice, " he said.
The crossing on Richmond Street will be one of the test sites for the new tool (Colin Bulter/ CBC News)

Locations of the devices have yet to be finalized, but McGuire expects the Richmond, Colborne and Adelaide CP crossings would be among those chosen.

McGuire acknowledges that overpasses or underpasses would be most ideal to stop train delays in this city, but says 
"overpasses are very expensive and they're not appropriate at every location, such as at Richmond .. the looks of Richmond Row would change dramatically"

The new digital monitoring system is expected to cost about $50-thousand. 
 

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