Open Data Service for Blackpool Transport
Improving Bus Services for Customers

Blackpool Transport is an operator for buses and trams in western Lancashire, England across the Fylde Coast. 


Phil Lonsdale, Head of IT at Blackpool Transport explains why they chose Nimbus Journey Information (now r2p UK) as their partner: “We have a requirement for systems that offer speedy response times and partners who are easy to work with. Nimbus Journey Information has ticked every box. Working with three technology partners in this project – Traffilog, BusCMS and Base – meant that multi-partner co-operation is essential and Nimbus Journey Information excel at that, as well as offering excellent value.”

Initial situation

Nimbus Journey Information (now r2p UK) had been instructed to provide open data and reporting services, as well as the conversion of data formats and the provision of output to feed Blackpool Transport’s web pages and apps. The project was particularly challenging due to the variety of partners involved but by showing a positive attitude, potential issues were headed off before they became problems.

r2p's solution

Blackpool Transport asked Nimbus Journey Information to provide an open data service on very short deadlines to help them meet their aim to provide real time information to an App and web service. To do so Nimbus Journey Information would take a feed from Traffilog, process it and apply prediction algorithms and output feeds to a web and an app service. Nimbus Journey Information will monitor and maintain the service, as well as deliver relevant training to support Blackpool Transport every step of the way.

 

 

Components

These innovative services will provide customers with more information such as service routes, bus times and details of any delays to the scheduled journey making it easier for customers to travel more independently. Blackpool Transport will also have access to informative analysis and reporting options to monitor delays and adherence to timetables, which in turn helps the company set new targets and further improve its service to customers. It also provides real time response to queries in the Customer care department and enhances the contact experience. 

On time and on budget

Russell Gard, from r2p UK said: “Blackpool Transport have insisted on some tight delivery timescales and offered clearly defined requirements that we delivered on, and we look forward to demonstrating the range of additional benefits we can offer. We are very excited to work on this project and with Blackpool Transport in particular. They have an ambitious information strategy and we are enthused to be part of that.”

 

 

Open Data

r2p provides Open Data Services to many customers. Open Data means different things to different people, to us it is all about making data available so that public transport information can be as available wherever and whenever the traveling public want in which format and through which channel is best for them.

Readily available information to the public has been proved to be an important factor in the decision making process to take a bus. The more places and formats this can be made available in the more likely it is to meet the needs of a specific customer. No longer is it possible to just provide a display on street or a website, a multi-channel and format approach is needed to ensure that expectations are met. The providers of the data also expect security and dependability to be at the forefront. 

Click here, to learn more about our Open Data Services.