Skip to main content

Getting real with fleet management and passenger information

UK ticketing technology company Parkeon has partnered with information specialist Cloud Amber to develop a new way of using the in-built GPS/GPRS functionality of an electronic ticket machine to improve the scope and accuracy of real time information systems while reducing system cost, complexity and maintenance requirements. Newport Transport is to take advantage of the alliance to become one of the first bus operators in the country to take direct control of its real time information systems, using the t
September 2, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
RSSUK ticketing technology company 251 Parkeon has partnered with information specialist Cloud Amber to develop a new way of using the in-built GPS/GPRS functionality of an electronic ticket machine to improve the scope and accuracy of real time information systems while reducing system cost, complexity and maintenance requirements.

Newport Transport is to take advantage of the alliance to become one of the first bus operators in the country to take direct control of its real time information systems, using the technology to drive its real time communication across its fleet of buses via architecture built into its newly-ordered Wayfarer200 ticketing platform.

The move to the Wayfarer200 platform enables Newport Transport to take responsibility for its own RTI performance across its 100 strong bus fleet and to deliver true real time, dual language (English and Welsh) messaging to its customers via on-street displays based on actual travel information data rather than historic journey times.

The system will enable the operators to improve fleet management and reporting in areas such as schedule adherence, including early and late running indicators and two-way digital driver messaging, while passengers benefit from an information flow that’s always up-to-date.

Scott Pearson, managing director of Newport Transport, sees the investment as key to enhancing operational performance: “We are taking advantage of technological innovation to bring a truly ground-breaking RTI system under our own control. The ability to access highly accurate data in real time will facilitate better day-to-day running, offer more flexibility in decision-making and provide much more accurate information to passengers.”

Says Gavin Trimnell, Parkeon UK head of sales: “All of this is facilitated directly through the Wayfarer200 ticketing platform, meaning there’s no need for traditional on-vehicle “black box” technologies, thereby reducing equipment and deployment complexity, and lowering maintenance costs while improving data accuracy.”

Related Content

  • March 31, 2014
    Melbourne buses to get bus tracking system
    Public Transport Victoria (PTV) in Australia has opted for Smartrak as the preferred supplier to operate the bus tracking system (BTS) for metropolitan buses. PTV chief executive officer Mark Wild said that the award of this contract is another step forward in providing better and real-time information, as well as improved bus services for our customers. It also paves the way for the provision of real time bus tracking information via smartphone apps, online and PTV’s customer contact centre. The new
  • November 23, 2018
    Cubic: predictive analytics is putting fortune tellers out of business
    The rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence means that fortune tellers will soon be out of business. Ed Chavis takes a behind the scenes look at the world of predictive analytics ver since organisations started taking advantage of insights derived from Big Data, data scientists concentrated their efforts on the ability to make correct assumptions about the future. A few years later, with the help of automation, developments in machine learning (ML) and advancements in the application of a
  • January 14, 2013
    New approach to data handling aids development of smarter cities
    David Crawford has been to the Irish capital to see a potent memorandum of understanding at work. An imaginative collaboration between the world’s largest IT company and one of Europe’s smaller capital cities is demonstrating a new approach to data handling that could have far reaching implications for urban public transport worldwide. A close working relationship between IBM and Dublin City Council (DCC) dates from 2010.
  • January 11, 2013
    New approach to data handling aids development of smarter cities
    David Crawford has been to the Irish capital to see a potent memorandum of understanding at work. An imaginative collaboration between the world’s largest IT company and one of Europe’s smaller capital cities is demonstrating a new approach to data handling that could have far reaching implications for urban public transport worldwide. A close working relationship between IBM and Dublin City Council (DCC) dates from 2010. The IT giant was looking for a local transport authority as partner for testing IBM’s