Wellington Bus stands entering the 21st Century
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
Groaning about when the bus will arrive could soon be a thing of the past, with Greater Wellington Council signing off last week on a deal to provide real-time information to riders. Chairman of the Transport and Access Committee Peter Glensor says?eight tenders were considered for the design, supply and installation of a real-time information system for Metlink. Real-time information lets public transport users know, through display screens, mobile phones and the internet, when their next bus or train is due, as opposed to when it is scheduled to arrive or depart. ?Today we move a significant step closer towards a hugely exciting development for Wellington's public transport network," says Mr Glensor. The technology will be channelled through on-street displays, interactive in-home monitors, websites, mobile devices and digital TV. Most people are most familiar with the electronic display screen, and while these will be installed at major bus stops and stations, people will?get real-time information mostly through 'txt bus' and?'txt train' and on the Metlink website.? ?We are pleased to announce that our preferred supplier is a British/NZ partnership ? ACIS/Kordia. "Councillors have asked our chief executive to enter into negotiations with ACIS / Kordia and we expect this to take several weeks,? he says. Starting later this year the system will have a trial phase, to be carried out on a selected cross-city bus route. The system is expected to begin operating for bus services in Wellington City about this time next year and trains services will follow next. Advanced Communication and Information Systems Ltd, (ACIS) is an award-winning market leader in the real time passenger information space. They provide location-based intelligence that informs communities, drives efficiencies into transport operations and ensures the travelling passenger has access to information instantaneously. The council hopes the move will improve the management of public transport fleets and deliver better efficiency.
