Meet RITA: The new transport bot to help you plan your trip
Monday 04 September
Transport for NSW has launched a new travel chatbot via Facebook Messenger, which can provide real-time train, bus, ferry and light rail arrival information.
A chatbot, or bot, is a computer program that mimics conversation using artificial intelligence to interpret requests and provide a response.
RITA (Real-time Intelligent Transport Assistant) is the NSW Transport bot which provides service updates and real-time information for all modes of public transport. If you have a Facebook account, RITA can be accessed through Facebook Messenger either on mobile via the Facebook Messenger app or on a desktop computer through a web browser. Just search for "RITA NSW Transport bot".
Right now you can get next departure information across all modes of transport, but more features including the ability to answer common transport information queries and push notifications for transport disruptions that might affect your journey will be introduced in the future.
To get started, simply choose your mode of transport and type in your location or bus stop ID (which is available at your bus stop) and RITA will tell you when your next services are due to arrive.
Chat to RITA: NSW Transport bot
Meet RITA: The new transport bot
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Meet RITA: The new transport bot
https://transportnsw.info/news/2017/mee ... -your-trip
Living in the Shire.
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
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Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
So, nobody uses paper timetables any more, and they are increasingly hard to obtain. But you have to get and memorise some stupid 6 digit number ?
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
It did say you could also put in your location.
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
Also if you don't want to use it, you don't have to.
- boronia
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Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
Seems to be the same info I can get from other apps.
Preserving fire service history
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@ The Museum of Fire.
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
I usually use my Android phone's Google Assistant, which is like Siri, now so I don't think I'll have a use for this. I say "Ok Google" and then ask something like, "when in the next bus to Westfield Burwood" and then, in a digital voice, it automatically gives me directions, times and since Google Maps now has real time tracking, it also accounts delays as well.
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
It didn't say that to me.simonl wrote:It did say you could also put in your location.
And oddly, at the TfNSW website or trip planner, it is impossible to find out any information about what these 6 digit codes are. Or about where bus stops actually are, at all. It is a great idea to have a universal database of bus stop locations, but TfNSW website and trip planner seem to complete ignore it.
You can find out from google maps, which doesn't work properly on my phone. I can only use that one my computer, which effectively means, only when I am home.
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
Also, the apparent claim that the number is present at the bus stop, would appear to be simply false.
- boronia
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Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
Quite often, the only indication of a bus stop number is in the small print at the bottom of a timetable.
Putting street names in trip finders or apps will bring up the nearest stops, usually with numbers.
Putting street names in trip finders or apps will bring up the nearest stops, usually with numbers.
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
- boronia
- Posts: 21567
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 6:18 am
- Favourite Vehicle: Ahrens Fox; GMC PD4107
- Location: Sydney NSW
Re: Meet RITA: The new transport bot
I used RITA this morning to get times of buses at my stop. I then used an app and got completely different information, which turned out to be more accurate.
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.