Papercast upgrades Poznan bus info

E-paper displays save energy costs, say authorities in Polish town
Mobility as a Service / October 22, 2020
By Ben Spencer
Papercast technology may be rolled out across the city’s transit network if successful (Credit: Trapeze Poland)
Papercast technology may be rolled out across the city’s transit network if successful (© Trapeze Poland)

Papercast's electronic paper technology is being trialled by Trapeze Poland at bus stops in the city of Poznan. 

The new trial will allow people using public transport services to test the bus stop displays over the next three months.

It will assess passenger reaction and compare functionality with regular LED displays - if successful, it may be rolled out across the city's transit network.

As part of the deal, Trapeze supplied the e-paper display to Wielkopolskie Centrum Wspierania Inwestycji (WCWI), a local government unit responsible for finding smart city solutions that contribute to the development of Poznan. 

Rafał Ratajczak, smart city manager at WCWI, says the e-paper displays save energy costs while also removing the “significant expense” of changing paper timetables. 

“When there is a timetable change, we can easily update remotely,” Ratajczak continues. “If there is a delay or disruption, we can notify passengers instantly.”

Papercast says its 13.3-inch e-paper display features four function buttons, allowing users to toggle through travel information. This includes real-time arrival predictions, timetables and route maps as well as text to speech audio announcements, the company adds. 

The solar-powered displays can be viewed and updated remotely because they are connected wirelessly to a content management system. The displays can be operational within a few hours, the company concludes. 

Trapeze is part of Trapeze Group, an IT solutions provider for public transport.

The company has been in Poland for more than 15 years, providing a dynamic passenger information system and participating in the implementation of an autonomous bus.

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