Transport for Wales (TfW) has awarded two contracts for the development of a Welsh Bus Data Service (WBDS) and a content management system (CMS) to provide better quality information on services around the country.
The former has gone to transit information and analytics specialist Vix Technology at a value of £2.2 million, the latter to Journeo Passenger Systems for £2.8 million.
According to the joint award notice for the two contracts, the WBDS deal covers operational and financial data on buses in Wales to support passengers, public sector decision makers, third party services and researchers.
It will replace the systems currently used by the Traveline journey planner, and TfW will use information in the service for the delivery of bus projects and provide data to third party apps, local authorities for contract management and the Welsh Government for policy making.
Vix Technology will be expected to improve and maintain data quality and be capable of extending the service to other transport modes and active travel if required. Its contract covers a managed service, analytics package, managing data for other modes, a bus operations room and integration with the TfW API Gateway.
Simplifying displays
The contract with Journeo for the Welsh Bus Display Board Content Management System is aimed at simplifying the operational management of displays through a standard interface compliant with the Real Time Integration Group’s CMS to Display specification.
The CMS will be used be used for real time information, public service messages and other content, and interface with the WBDS.
The notice says it should save local authorities from having to procure separate real time information engines and CMSs, and give them the flexibility to procure the right display for the right location.
