WAG Invests £250,000 in new Traveline Cymru Public Transport Information

The Welsh Assembly Government has demonstrated its commitment to encouraging the use of public transport in Wales by investing £250,000 in the development of the Traveline Cymru public transport information services.

The current system which provides the travelling public with journey planning and timetable information through the Traveline Cymru call centre, website, text messaging and mobile internet services is in urgent need of upgrade to improve information for the people of Wales.

It is hoped that the new system will allow members of the public to make configurable journey plans across Wales using any combination of bus, coach, train, air, ferry, car, taxi bicycle and on foot. The system will also offer more intelligent searching and fare information to improve the information given.

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said of the Welsh Assembly’s investment into the project: "The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to developing a sustainable, accessible and integrated transport system for the people of Wales. Our plans for the next 5 years are clearly set-out in the Wales National Transport Plan.

We support the work of Traveline Cymru because it provides a high quality, accurate and bilingual travel information service for the people of Wales.

These are exciting times for Traveline Cymru as it is using new technology to broaden the range of information services that it provides in order to reach even more people."

Graham Walter, General Manager for Traveline Cymru said of the project: “The new system will improve journey planning information for the people of Wales and will help them make more informed decisions about the way they travel. We hope that this will in turn encourage more people to use alternative modes to the single occupancy car.”

The contract for development of the new system has been awarded to the Trapeze Group who supply the existing system used in Wales and those used in a number of other Traveline regions throughout the UK. Trapeze Group are leaders in the transport technology field in the UK and are experts at developing integrated travel solutions.

Lawrence Rosedale, Director of PTI at Trapeze said: "Trapeze Group UK is thrilled to extend our relationship with Traveline Cymru.   The market for providing travel information is evolving and we will be working with Traveline Cymru to ensure that end-users are presented with accurate and valuable travel information through a range of delivery channels.   Through a number of innovations & system enhancements, we will be supporting Traveline Cymru’s vision of becoming the recognised 'portal' for public transport information across Wales."

The new system will be developed over the next twelve months and will be launched in both the Traveline Cymru call centre and on the website in November 2010.