Service Adjustments: Add or Cancel Service

In transit operations, the unexpected is always expected. Changing service to adapt to changing conditions is a tall order in the best of times. Using the Swiftly Service Adjustments, an agency can add in trips to the schedule or cancel blocks and trips that no longer need to run, which allows for more flexibility during the service day. 

With Service Adjustments, when an agency wants to run extra service beyond the regular schedule, to address crowding or performance issues like gaps in service, they can do so by creating a copy of a similar trip and adjusting the start time. Similarly, if an agency doesn’t have a bus or driver available to run an entire block or specific trips within it they can cancel service. Service Adjustments ensure passengers and internal staff are aware of the cancelation or trip addition, which creates more transparency around shifting schedules throughout the entire system.

If your agency has Rider Alerts enabled you can also inform riders and staff with additional information about the added or canceled service through your passenger-facing tools. Also, operators who are using the Onboard App will see added trips on their tablets, and will also not be able to see the canceled service when selecting trips. Learn more about how Service Adjustments further impacts Onboard App and real-time information. 

Video Overview of Add or Cancel Service

How to Add Service

In the Live Operations product, you will be able to add trips throughout the day. 

Step 1: Go to the Action Log in the Live Operations product

Step 2: Click “Modify Service”

Step 3: Click “Add Trip” 

Step 4: In the Add Trip panel you will need to start by selecting a route and a direction. Once you select a route and direction, a list of the trips for the day will populate. 

Step 5: To make it easier to copy a trip that’s starting soon, the trip that’s closest to the current time will be automatically selected. You can easily use the “Select a Trip to Copy” menu to pick a different trip from earlier or later in the day that better matches your trip pattern for the added trip. 

Step 6: Under “New Trip Start Time” input the new start time for the added trip. 

Step 7: Look at the preview section to make sure your new added trip looks good, and provide a reason for the added trip, and add any other notes necessary to inform your internal staff about the added trip. Click “Submit”

After you click submit, the new trip will show up in the action log, and will also show up as a missing trip in the Live Operations views, like Live List and Live Ladder once the trip is expected to be running. To finish adding a trip you will need to assign a vehicle to the new trip. 

Step 8: Find the missing trip in either the Live List or Live Ladder view and click on it.

Step 9: Click “Assign Vehicle”

Step 10: Select a vehicle from the drop-down list and click “submit.” If the vehicle is already assigned to another trip, you will see an in-line notification as this action will override that assignment and re-assign that vehicle to the new trip. 

To view the added service, go to the action log. In the Action Log, you may see the option to “Delete” the added trip - this feature is only available up to five minutes before a trip starts. If you are within five minutes of the added trip's start time, or the trip is already running you will need to proceed with canceling the service. 

Canceling Service

In the Live Operations product, you will be able to cancel trips and blocks when you know that the scheduled service will not be run. Upcoming Trips and blocks not yet in serviced can be cancelled in the Live List view using the Upcoming Trips toggle. 

Step 1: Select a vehicle either in the Live Map, Live List, or Live Ladder view in Live Operations. 

To cancel a trip or block that is not yet in service, toggle on the Upcoming Trips switch in Live List

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Step 2: Click “Modify Service”

Step 3: Click “Cancel Service”

Upcoming trips are designated as "missing" in Live List as they do not have a vehicle assigned to them yet. You can then click the associated start time for the trip or block you wish to cancel service for.

Step 4: Click the checkbox next to the trip you want to cancel. You’ll be able to cancel the current trip that’s running or any trips afterward.

Or click the check box at the top of the list under cancel service to quickly select all remaining trips and cancel the rest of the block. 

Step 5: Select a reason for the canceled trip or block, and add any other notes necessary to inform your internal staff about the canceled service. Click “Submit”

To view the canceled service, go to the Actions Log. You’ll also be able to see canceled service on Live List and Live Ladder as well as in the Real-Time Stats in Live Map. When you open up a vehicle or block that has canceled service, you’ll be able to see it in the Details Panel. 

In the Action Log, you can always click “Edit” and “Reinstate” the specific trips you canceled or the entire block (if you canceled the whole block). This allows you to bring trip backs into service if an operator shows up or an extra vehicle becomes available.