Real time information coming to Wellington

MEDIA RELEASE FROM GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL

11 September 2009

Greater Wellington Regional Council and specialist supplier ACIS have signed a contract for the provision of a public transport real time information system that will enable bus and train passengers to find out what time the next bus or train will actually arrive.

Passengers will be able to find out what’s happening by going online or texting with their mobile phone or looking at electronic displays at the main bus and train stops round the region.

“The new system will give reliable information to commuters and ease a great deal of the frustration that people currently experience when the bus or train is late”, said Greater Wellington Chair Fran Wilde. “At present people can find out only the scheduled time, not the real time, so this will be a huge advance.”

A real time passenger information system tracks the precise position of buses and trains using satellite positioning technology (GPS) and feeds this information back to the central system, which can then be accessed publicly.

Greater Wellington and ACIS will work closely with KiwiRail and a range of bus operators to bring real time information to the region’s public transport network.

Dan Sandhu, ACIS Chief Executive Officer, said he was delighted ACIS would be part of such a major development in Wellington public transport.

“The new system will provide bus and train passengers with real time information wherever, whenever and however they need it. Our experience as a leading provider of intelligent transport systems is that successful real time information systems build passenger confidence, encourage more people to use public transport and support the development of high quality public transport networks,” Mr Sandhu said.

Fran Wilde said that the extensive experience of ACIS would be a huge benefit to the partnership in building the system over the next year.

The anticipated timeline for the system includes a pilot phase, to be carried out on a selected bus route in Wellington City starting later this year. The system is expected to begin operating for bus services about this time next year and will be progressively rolled out round the region. The trains will then follow. Information will be displayed at as many as 250 major bus stops and train stations. People will also be able to get real time information for all stops and stations through ‘txtBUS’ and ‘txtTRAIN’ and on the Metlink website.

Within the next few weeks ACIS is expected to finalise arrangements with local contractors, who will provide some of the required infrastructure and help to install the system.

ENDS