GERMANY: Halle city transport operator Havag has begun testing an intelligent real-time passenger information system based on Galileo satellite navigation technology.

As Galileo is not yet fully functional the tram trial is using simulated satellites to provide location data. An onboard computer uses this to drive passenger information systems, which will include real-time updates at tram stops and provide alerts to the control systems when there are delays.

The trials were launched on February 17 and are being undertaken in conjunction with Magdeburg University, the Fraunhofer Institute and the Institut für Automation und Kommunikation Magdeburg, supported by funding from the Land of Sachsen-Anhalt. Testing is expected to take up to three years, with a commercial system being available from 2014.