Skip to main content

Hertfordshire deploys real-time public transport information system

UK transport consultants WYG have successfully collaborated with Hertfordshire County Council in the UK to provide technical expertise for the county’s real-time public transport system. The roll-out of real time passenger information (RTPI) systems across Hertfordshire over the coming weeks is the first milestone in the project and is a key part of a wider transport improvement programme. The project presented numerous challenges, not least the need to deliver the project in partnership with private secto
October 8, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
UK transport consultants 6676 WYG have successfully collaborated with Hertfordshire County Council in the UK to provide technical expertise for the county’s real-time public transport system.

The roll-out of real time passenger information (RTPI) systems across Hertfordshire over the coming weeks is the first milestone in the project and is a key part of a wider transport improvement programme.  The project presented numerous challenges, not least the need to deliver the project in partnership with private sector bus operators with potentially conflicting requirements.

Although passengers are already able to access bus timetables online which show when a bus is due to arrive, they will now be able to view real-time information on departure screens, at bus stations and stops, through the Council’s Intalink website and on their own mobile phones. This new real-time information will show the actual arrival time, taking into account problems such as delays.

WYG provided technical expertise in the specification of an automatic vehicle location system (AVL) and associated real-time passenger information. The project also included smart-card ticketing which has successfully been implemented and launched earlier in 2012.

WYG also designed the integrated traffic control centre and wrote the specification for the urban traffic management and control (UTMC) system that underpins Hertfordshire County Council’s intelligent transport systems strategy.

The system will be further developed to assist Hertfordshire County Council and other stakeholders to deliver environmentally sustainable changes in transport behaviour through integrated ticketing and real-time passenger information delivered to on-street signs and smart phones.

Iain Bisset, Managing Director, WYG said: “Crucially, the system will deliver to bus operators the tools to improve the reliability and punctuality of bus services throughout the county. Detailed information on delay points will enable Hertfordshire County Council to reduce delays to buses, including delivering bus priority at signalised junctions.”

Stuart Pile, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for the Council, said: "Real-time passenger information will help make public transport more attractive to use, as well as helping us to deliver more reliable and punctual buses. This is vital if we are to persuade residents to leave their cars at home and take the bus instead.  The real-time information project is part of a wave of traffic and travel technologies which form part of the county council’s larger intelligent transport systems programme to improve the way Hertfordshire's transport network is managed.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • RTS upgrades New York bus fleet with Conduent technology
    June 5, 2018
    New York’s Regional Transit Service (RTS) will upgrade onboard the hardware and software of 214 buses with technology from Conduent Transportation over the spring and summer. The lifespan of RTS’ computer aided dispatch/ automated vehicle location (CAD/ AVL) system will be extended and is expected to save approximately $8.5m. The (CAD/ AVL) connects vehicles to back-office scheduling and dispatching software to help the transit operations run more smoothly. Conduent’s Fleet Management System and Servi
  • Viaduct deck renewal creates detour dilemma for MassDOT
    May 26, 2016
    As the deck renewal of the I-91 viaduct in Springfield gets underway, David Crawford looks at the preparation and planning to ease the resulting traffic congestion. Accommodating the deck renewal of a 4km-long/four-lanes in each direction viaduct in the heart of Springfield (Massachusetts’ third largest city), has involved the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in a massive exercise in transport research and ITS-based area-wide preplanning and traffic management. Supporting a workzone of well ab
  • London’s mayor launches bus safety programme
    February 2, 2016
    The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have launched a world-leading programme to drive major improvements in safety across London's bus network, creating a six-point programme to reduce collisions and improve safety. The programme will bring together the newest technology, training, incentives, support, reporting and transparency right across the network, contributing to TfL's work towards meeting the mayor's target of halving the number of people killed or seriously injured on the capital's
  • Erskine Bridge goes Bluetooth
    May 12, 2014
    The Erskine Bridge vehicle safety barrier replacement team introduced what is said to be a UK first in temporary traffic management on major trunk roads projects with the use of Bluetooth technology to monitor journey times and keep drivers updated on potential delays. Working on behalf of Transport Scotland, with Leeds-based Sky High Technology, contractor Highway Barrier Solutions and the Scotland TranServ project team introduced the origin-destination vehicle movement system to establish how long it w