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

  • Running on empty
    May 2, 2018
    Drivers are an increasingly rare species on Europe’s commuter metros as unattended train operation is embraced. David Crawford takes a low-speed tour of the continent’s capitals to see what’s happening. Unattended train operation (UTO) is fast becoming the norm for Europe’s metros, on existing as well as new lines. November 2017 statistics published by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) show the continent as having 28% of the global total of route km on lines operating at the ultimate
  • China’s BYD wins European electric bus orders for Netherlands city
    June 7, 2012
    An island which is home to the Netherlands’ first National Park is about to launch Europe’s cleanest bus fleet. The city of Schiermonnikoog in the province of Friesland, Netherlands is nestled on this 16 km long island and is virtually car-free. While home to about 1000 residents, over 350,000 people visit the island every year and will now ride in six new, long-range, all-electric BYD buses set to launch on Schiermonnikoog early next year. In a European legal tender and open bid supported by four major bus
  • Embedded connectivity delivers real time travel information
    February 3, 2012
    Ton Brand describes the GSM Association's Embedded mTelematics programme. As the world's roads become increasingly crowded, consumers and businesses are demanding better real-time information to help them both avoid traffic congestion and make smarter use of public transport. Embedding mobile connectivity directly into vehicles can enable drivers and passengers to see live traffic flows in their localities, as well as the expected arrival time of the next bus, ferry or tram
  • Siemens unveils Sepac 3.51 traffic control software
    July 31, 2012
    At this year’s IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) Conference, which ends today in Orlando, Florida, Siemens has released the latest Sepac local traffic controller software which incorporates new features that help make intersections safer and improve the use of traffic signal priority for public mass transportation, without interrupting the general traffic flow.