15 June 2010
Bus Tracker roll-out a boost for public transport users
SEStran have announced that they are planning to expand the Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) programme that powers the Bus Tracker system across the whole of South East Scotland. Bus Tracker is currently being operated in Edinburgh by the City of Edinburgh Council and Lothian Buses. SEStran and bus operators First and Stagecoach are set to roll out Bus Tracker across SE Scotland. The project has gained the go ahead thanks to £868,000 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which will cover one third of the cost of the project.
Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland, Charlie Mullen said:d
“our passengers are also looking for greater convenience and even better customer information. This system will allow more customers to access up-to-the-minute information about their local bus services... “ 1
Managing Director for First in Scotland East, Paul Thomas said:
“It will provide us with the opportunity to further enhance the accessibility of information we provide to the public thus assisting in transforming travel in East Lothian and the Borders"1
Communications Officer for Transform Scotland, Matthew Byrne, said:
“We welcome this move by SEStran and the bus operators to expand the Bus Tracker system across South East Scotland. The Bus Tracker system has been a success in Edinburgh and has helped improve the quality of bus services within the city. Government and Local Authorities must continue to back projects such as this, which can help boost the use of public trasport through making it more accessible and more efficient. Other measures such as the introduction of an Oystercard style Smartcard for Scotland would be a further step towards increasing public transport use in Scotland.”
Notes
1. Quote taken from SEStran press release http://www.sestran.gov.uk/news/article.php?ID=96