21st Century has supplied Worcestershire County Council with real time passenger information screens in a project part-funded by £1.8m from the Department for Transport.
The screens, showing up-to-the-minute expected bus arrival times to eliminate unnecessary waiting at the bus stop, have been installed in more than 50 bus shelters in Worcester and Malvern.
In conjunction with the display boards being installed in shelters in Worcester and Malvern, passengers can also access a live feed on their mobile phones, enabling them to check an accurate arrival time before leaving their home or workplace.
Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member for Highways at Worcestershire County Council, said: “The roll-out of our real time information service reflects a commitment to making public transport more attractive to commuters by offering accurate updates about the service.
“Our investment in state-of-the-art technology is already enabling people to see exactly when their next bus will arrive. This helps people to plan their time and their journeys more effectively, meaning public transport is the smart choice in every sense of the word.”
Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director for First Worcester said: “Real time information provides customers with a platform that will make bus travel more convenient, accessible and efficient in planning bus journeys.
“People can now sit in the comfort of their home or workplace, check out the arrival times of the service they wish to use and plan their journey with confidence before making their way to the bus stop.”
Saff Riaz, National Sales Manager for 21st Century, comments: “Being able to work with both the Local Authority and the Operators enables us to assist in delivering a range of solutions tailored to the needs of communities. The enhanced services that partnerships like this deliver will assist in increasing patronage, both from local users and visitors to the area.”
Availability of real-time information is one of many new innovations aimed at encouraging people to turn to public transport, with Wi-Fi, USB points and audio-visual stop announcements now available or being developed for many services.
Further information www.21stplc.com
