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

  • US transport agencies get ITS from Mentor Engineering
    December 17, 2012
    Canada-headquartered Mentor Engineering is to provide several agencies with comprehensive Intelligent Transportation Systems to help them better manage operations and enhance customer service. Capital Area Rural Transportation (CARTS) in Austin, Texas, has been a long-time Mentor paratransit client. Now, CARTS will be implementing Mentor’s fixed route solution, which includes the Mentor MyRide passenger information system. With MyRide, passengers are able to get real-time schedule and bus information anywhe
  • Manchester to get intelligent transport system
    January 29, 2013
    The UK’s Transport for Greater Manchester is planning a "Dynamic Road Network Efficiency and Travel Information System Solution", designed to enable the administration and delivery of schemes to improve the management of the transport network in Greater Manchester. The city is tendering a contract worth up to US$23.5 million over six years to build an intelligent transport system, covering active traffic management of the highway network, traffic signal priority measures (initially for the local bus network
  • UITP highlights mass transit changes
    October 25, 2022
    Increasingly, public transport passengers will no longer need to carry a dedicated smartcard ticket to travel, as technology enables virtually any type of contactless payment system to take over the role.
  • CTS to upgrade LAMetro’s automatic fare system
    January 4, 2019
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) will upgrade the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority’s (LAMetro) automatic fare collection system, in a contract valued at $22m. The system links to 25 regional agencies through the TAP smart card. CTS will develop an integrated app and also launch TAPforce, a cloud-based account which will allow commuters to take part in LAMetro’s Mobility as a Service programmes for parking and bike-sharing. Matt Newsome, general manager, western region, CTS, says the app is des