ESRC Presentation by David Laird Head of Projects Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge 1 st February 2002

Information Communication “ if Translink only knew what Translink knows”

Background to Translink Merger of 2 Bus Companies, Ulsterbus & Citybus & 1 Rail Company, Northern Ireland Railways in 1996 ‘Translink’ trading name of NITHCo Holding Company, which is part of Department of Regional Development £100m Turnover, 25% Pupils Revenues 3,600 Employees ( 2,870 bus, 730 train )

Background to Translink Integration - Provision of integrated Bus & Train services across all N Ireland, 15 manned/45 unmanned train stations, 23 bus depots with a fleet of 1,460 buses 32 train sets ( mainly three car ) 160 miles of track Cross Border Services (Bus & Train ) with Republic of Ireland ( Euro Land Boundary ) Some Cross Channel services

Information Systems Strategy Review Merger brought integration of services /timetables, management and cost savings at front end. But also duplication/lack of integration at back end:- –Systems, resources, data collection, procedures, information inaccuracies, decision making,

IS Strategy Recommendations Main recommendations were a series of 30 IS projects with a capital investment of £10m. Rationalisation/streamlining of data flows Creation of accurate ‘information pools’ Establishment of single sources of information provision Implementation of a modern IT & project management culture across organisation.

Main Areas of Change Rationalisation of fares and integration of timetables – bus & rail Rationalisation of fleet control/maintenance scheduling Standardisation of depot duties and dynamic scheduling of vehicles/manpower/routes Integrated financial & management accounting systems. 100 non-integrated Pc’s to 500 networked Windows 2000 PC’s Integrated voice and data telecommunications network

Main Areas of Change Creation of a Call Centre ( 30 staff ) Design of a Web Site/Journey Planner Replacement of Ticketing systems with common bus & rail equipment & smartcard. Introduction of free fares for elderly – smartcard based for electoral purposes Replacement of PIS/LLPA system at stations + on-train for DDA compliance Creation of Corporate Positional Database

Specific Projects Web Site Replacement Ticketing Corporate Positional Database

Translink Web Site Journey Planner Timetables Call Centre 15 minutes update Caters for Disabled No fares information yet Job applications/Feedback Design Awards ( Ireland/Great Britain/Europe)

WAP Enabled Latest Travel News

Website Awards Northern Ireland Web Awards – Best Content and Information Based Website (September 2001) Institute of Logistics & Transport – Award for Information Management (October 2001) European Day of Disabled People – Design for All Award (December 2001)

Replacement Ticketing System £6m project replacing bus (static) & rail (hand held) equipment GPS ( non-differential ) for automatic stage fares updating ( excellent driver feedback ) Introduction of Smart Cards – Units/Value Comprehensive MIS Point of Sale and Ticket Vending Machines

Corporate Positional Database Standardisation of all corporate information on positional data. ( currently variable levels of accuracy ) Corporate co-ordination of data compilation Mapping across Ordnance Survey data Passenger & Operational Planning needs

Corporate Positional Database Passenger information :- –Static Bus stop timetable displays –Regional Transport Strategy Planning Information needs (Route Profitability) –Real Time Journey Planning Call Centre Web Site –Real Time Displays – Stations and Bus Stops

Corporate Positional Database Operational Information:- –Timetabling –Journey statistics from ticketing system –Scheduling of manpower/routes/vehicles Working time directive impact –Bus Stop location and asset register –Automatic Vehicle Location

Questions?