Realtime Transit Departures : UX Guidelines Demonstration

1. Color and Motion Logic

Real-time Available
10:00

Live data — animated dot

Delayed (Transit Network)
10:02

Delayed — pulsating red dot

Delayed (Rail Network)
10:00 +2

Red text indicates delay

On Time (RT)
10:00

Green text for confirmed RT

No Real-time Feed
10:00 ⚠️

Static theoretical time

2. Data Refresh Indicator

Next departure: 10:15

Last updated:

3. On-Street Display Integrity Indicator

Tram 7 → Heysel

10:12

Last updated:

A large ticking clock and last updated timestamp reassure users that the display is not frozen.

4. Relative Time Display (Non-Railway)

Show departures in minutes when less than 30 minutes away. Railway systems excluded.

Bus / Tram / Metro
Bus 71 → Airport
2 min
Tram 4 → Center
8 min
Metro 1 → Gare du Midi
12 min
Bus 95 → Leuven
10:45

Relative time for <30 min, absolute time for ≥30 min

Railway
IC 1234 → Brussels
10:15
S4 → Aalst
10:22+3
IC 2456 → Liège
10:30
IC 3678 → Antwerp
10:55+1

Always show absolute time with delay modifier

5. Railway Display Format

Scheduled time + delay modifier, with computed realtime departure

Full Display
10:00 +2 → 10:02

When space allows

Compact Display
10:00 +2

Limited space

Interactive Display
10:00+2

Tap to toggle / Auto-alternate

On-Time Example (No Delay)
10:00

When on-time, only show scheduled time in green with live indicator