ESRC Presentation by David Laird Head of Projects

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 • £ 100 m 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 £ 10 m. • 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 • £ 6 m 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?