Skip to main content

Coming soon...real time passenger communication in advance of travel

A partnership between UK payment and ticketing solutions provider Parkeon and Cloud Amber is about to deliver real time passenger information (RTPI) in advance of travel that the companies say is redefining the effectiveness of RTPI systems. The system developed by Parkeon and Cloud Amber enables over-the-air location tracking of buses, the deep integration with urban traffic management control (UTMC) data and two-way driver messaging. This bus-centric view means that operators are better able to manage
November 25, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A partnership between UK payment and ticketing solutions provider 251 Parkeon and Cloud Amber is about to deliver real time passenger information (RTPI) in advance of travel that the companies say is redefining the effectiveness of RTPI systems.

The system developed by Parkeon and Cloud Amber enables over-the-air location tracking of buses, the deep integration with urban traffic management control (UTMC) data and two-way driver messaging. This bus-centric view means that operators are better able to manage and report on fleet performance in areas such as schedule adherence, including early and late running indicators, while passengers benefit from an information flow to RTI displays, websites and Apps that is accurate based on live conditions.

This is enabling bus operators to make better fleet and route management decisions – now though plans are moving ahead to use the data to provide valuable information to customers in real time in advance of travel.

“One year on from the launch of our partnership with Cloud Amber and we are making significant progress in winning market share for real time information systems,” says Owen Griffith, managing director of Parkeon Transit. “We’ve been successful in helping Newport Transport to take control of its own RTI system and won contracts with other bus operators for fleet management and two-way driver messaging. The next step is to leverage this data to enhance the customer experience.”

“The next focus is to use the available data to add value to both operators and customers through proactive communication,” says Alan Butterworth, Managing Director of Cloud Amber. “Data captured through smartcards opens up the potential to provide passengers with real time travel information that is specific to their journey and plans in a means of their choosing...whether via an App, email, text or social media channel. This is a very exciting development that has the potential to transform the customer experience, particularly when considering travel plans across multiple modes.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Meeting the challenges of smartcard fare payment
    July 4, 2012
    David Crawford monitors a growing trend in contactless smartcard ticketing The north east United States has become a hive of activity in the smart fare payment arena. In October 2011, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) published, as a preliminary to an imminent procurement process, the detailed concept of its New Fare Payment System (NFPS). Based on open payment industry standards, this is designed to be implemented on all MTA bus and subway services operated by New York City Transit (
  • Cubic adds NextBus to solutions portfolio
    January 25, 2013
    Cubic Transportation Systems has broadened its portfolio of transportation solutions with the acquisition of NextBus from Webtech Wireless. The US-based integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions says the acquisition also positions NextBus to accelerate its growth by leveraging Cubic's global presence and customer base. NextBus is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that accurate, real-time arrival information for buses, subways and trains. The system
  • PTV simulates York’s future
    August 26, 2021
    PTV’s predictive software modelling is helping one of England’s historic cities to improve traffic flow
  • 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