Skip to main content

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
March 31, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
RSSPublic 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 bus tracking system will be rolled out to all bus depots by the end of the 2014 financial year, with customer benefits progressively implemented once the system roll-out is completed. Smartrak will operate the bus tracking system for five years, with an option to extend its term for up to five years.

“The metropolitan bus network carries 119.3 million passengers a year and the roll-out of the bus tracking system to the rest of the bus fleet will give customers greater confidence to use the bus network,” Mr Wild said.

“Smartrak has a proven track record in providing accurate and reliable real-time public transport solutions to help organisations like PTV increase the performance of passenger information systems, which is fantastic news for PTV’s customers.

He said that, once in operation, the system will provide accurate, detailed and timely service information available shortly, leading to improved coordination at transport interchanges helping customers to interchange between trains, trams and buses, enhanced operational management capabilities for PTV and bus operators, as well as helping to support decision making for bus service improvements, such as where bus lanes or priority traffic light signals could improve services.

Related Content

  • CCTV brings transit safety into view
    September 15, 2014
    David Crawford looks at camera-based vulnerable road users protection systems.Safe and efficient operation of road-based transit depends on minimising the risks of incidents involving other vehicles or vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and passengers boarding or alighting from buses or trams. The extent and quality of the visibility available to drivers is crucial in preventing and avoiding incidents. Conventionally, they have had to rely on fairly basic equipment - essentially the human
  • Kapsch TrafficCom wins big in Sydney
    December 9, 2014
    The WestConnex Delivery Authority (WDA) in Sydney, Australia, has awarded Kapsch CarrierCom subsidiary, Kapsch CarrierCom Australia, the contract to supply a roadside tolling system to support capacity enhancement to the M4 motorway widening project as part of Stage 1 of the WestConnex motorway scheme in Sydney. The award covers two contracts for the initial phase of the project, one for the roadside equipment for the M4 widening segment and one for maintenance and support. The project is designed to in
  • Double awards for Cubic and TfL’s contactless payment system
    March 19, 2015
    Cubic Transportation Systems and Transport for London’s (TfL) contactless bankcard payment system are the proud recipients of two prestigious awards for Outstanding Project at the 2015 UK Rail Industry Awards, followed by Most Innovative Transport Project at the London Transport Awards. Launched in 2012, the contactless bankcard system was extended in 2014 to cover London’s entire transit network – including Tube, rail, and bus and tram services. The success of the contactless payment project in London is b
  • Marseille Metro invests in video surveillance
    August 12, 2014
    Australian video surveillance specialist DTI Group, with its French partner, Cibest, is to supply Santerne with 36 advanced video surveillance systems for the Marseille Metro. Santerne, a member of the Vinci group, is the leader of the consortium which holds the head contract with the Regie des Transports de Marseille (RTM), the operator of the Marseille Metro. The RTM operates 36 four-car trains on two metro lines as well as 578 buses and 26 trams. Over 500,000 journeys are taken on the RTM network ea