OnCourse App
UX/UI, Product Design
OnCourse helps GO train riders view their schedule, track their train, and keep up-to-date with delays and service interruptions.
GO train riders often experience confusion when it comes to identifying the Union train departure and destination arrival times. A rider has no way of knowing when the incoming train will arrive at Union, how much time you have to board the train before its departure, and which platform number your train is arriving at from within York Concourse Hall (i.e. Union station). Currently, train information is displayed on small screens scattered throughout York Concourse Hall – an inconvenient interface that is untimely and difficult to interpret. When commuters are running late to catch their train at Union station, they need accurate information at their disposal so they are able to make correct navigational decisions and board the right train.
Riders have to deal with and adapt to last minute platform changes, multiple train delays, and feelings of uncertainty when boarding their train. As research and user interviews unfolded, it was discovered that one of the biggest frustrations that riders have is that they have to wait until close to the train’s departure time in order to find out which platform it will be arriving on, and after receiving this information, it is difficult to then find its location. There is no way that users can access this information ahead of time, and upon arriving at York Concourse Hall, riders do not know when their train is set to arrive and where they will be boarding – they are informed solely of the time of departure from Union. Another common frustration is the frequent occurance of train delays, and how last-minute these delays and changes are announced.
OnCourse is an app that allows riders to view their GO train schedule quickly and easily by inputting their destination, current location, and time of departure. They are able to see the next train, and if required, view the full schedule for that line (specific to the user’s departure location and destination). The search feature includes suggestions from recent trips, as well as an autocomplete dropdown for quicker completion of input fields. The date and time are also set automatically to the current date and time, to remove steps for commuters who are in a rush. This allows users to get necessary information while reducing cognitive load. For added reassurance, users can track and map their train’s location in live-time (i.e. what station the train is currently at and when it will arrive at Union station). They can also access information about delays, including updated arrival/departure times and reasons for service interruptions. Users will be notified which platform their train is arriving on as soon as it is known, both within the app and through push notifications.
In order to remain focused on the user goals, information and options were reduced to the key requirements. Designing an app that simply reiterates the existing list of train departures that currently exists in the York Concourse Hall in a mobile environment would be providing users with more information than they need. Progressive disclosure was employed to avoid causing information overload, allowing users to first view the next available train, and allowing them to view the full schedule if they require so. OnCourse allows users to follow a path that is specific to their personal journey and needs, allowing them to commute from Union station with less stress.
The colour palette for the app is inspired by the existing GO Transit green, as well as the overall appearance and colour scheme of the station platforms. Iconography is used to support the communication of information, especially in regards to departure and destination locations. From a typography standpoint, visual hierarchy was ensured through the use of large, bold headers to communicate the course of travel, smaller subheaders for support, as well as carefully applied colour application to emphasize service/status updates and notifications.
