Dubbo will be one of the first regional centres in the State where customers can track the arrival of their bus and get an indication of available seating in real time.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said Transport for NSW has partnered with CONSAT Telematics, a global leader in public transport telematics solutions, to deliver the vehicle tracking and automatic passenger counting technology in collaboration with regional bus operators.
“It’s great to see the NSW Government delivering on its commitment to provide quality services and infrastructure to growing regional communities like Dubbo,” Mr Saunders said.
“This new tracking app will allow customers to see exactly when their bus will be arriving, which means less time waiting at the stop and more time at their destination.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the technology, rolling out on about 85 buses in Dubbo as part of the first phase of the Transport Connected Bus (TCB) Program, will allow customers to track the location of a bus, its estimated arrival at a stop, and how full the bus is.
“Dubbo is one of three regional centres statewide that is leading the charge on real-time tracking. It will allow customers to see exactly when their bus will be arriving, which means less time waiting at the stop and more time at your destination,” Mr Toole said.
“The launch of this technology is a huge step forward for people travelling in regional areas. It shows our ongoing commitment to make public transport a first choice in regional parts of the State.”
Odgens Coaches Dubbo Manger Peter Odgen said local operators would also benefit from the roll-out with access to more accurate data and tools to improve services and keep buses running on time.
“This technology will capture information about the number of customers getting on or off at a particular stop. This will give us a more accurate picture of how and when customers are travelling, which will make it easier for us to understand where service improvements need to be delivered,” Mr Odgen said.
The rollout of the first phase of the technology is nearing completion and will launch to customers by the end of July.
Customers travelling in regional NSW will be able to view reliable timetable information and real-time updates using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner tool at www.transportnsw.info and other transport apps.