Japanese public transport digital expertise coming to Wales
Transport for Wales has selected global company Hitachi to help digitally transform public transport within Wales, making it easier for customers to plan, book and pay for different modes of travel.
Over the next five years, Hitachi will deliver a multimodal digital booking system that will include all modes of public transport and be available to customers through a simple user-friendly app.
Rail, local bus, fflecsi and TrawsCymru services will all be available to plan and book through the one digital back-office solution from Hitachi. It will also host other micromobility (bikes, e-scooters) and demand-based mobility solutions already being used in Wales.
Hitachi has previously used this ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) technology in Japan, most notably on the Tokyo Metro.
Hitachi Rail will use its knowledge and experience of digitally connecting millions of journeys every day in Japan to deliver a bespoke and unique solution for Wales.
Ambition
Marie Daly, Chief Customer and Culture Officer at TfW said: “At TfW we’re always looking to improve the customer experience and in doing this we want to attract more people to our public transport network.
“This exciting and ambitious project will deliver a digital solution that will help our customers plan point to point journeys using different modes of public transport. It’s all part of our longer-term plans and aspirations to provide our customers with one network, one timetable and one ticket.
“We look forward to working with Hitachi and bringing this global expertise to public transport in Wales.”
Justin Southcombe, Commercial Director at Hitachi Rail said: “This strategic partnership with TfW will benefit from the breadth of mobility, digital and behavioural science expertise that exists in the Hitachi Group.
Hitachi can combine the latest in cutting-edge digital technology, with deep knowledge of managing some of the world’s most popular public transport systems, to better connect public transport.
By making public transport more accessible and user-friendly, Hitachi can help increase sustainable travel in Wales.”
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This article did make me laugh. Cardiff doesn’t have enough buses or bus drivers to run a decent service right now. It pathetic, hence my bus service from town ending at 7.40pm while my daughter struggles to get to work from Splott. Surely we need a properly functioning bus service first, no amount of digitalisation will help with a lack of buses.
You better pray that Hitachi are better than Fujitsu at delivering a reliable digital solution. Ask your local postmaster for some idea of how users can be reduced to personal ruin by dud “system solutions”
The key word here is “book”. The ability to just turn up at a bus stop or railway station and travel will be eroded and rationed by punitive pricing. Plus of course, the creation of yet more personal data mining to sell.
Having been to Japan a few times I can assure you that their “tap in, tap out” payment options for rail and bus services work perfectly fine. I doubt this will replace the ability to turn up and pay on the spot, but rather it will allow you to book multiple methods of travel on one website in advance should you wish to.
The railways have adopted the airline system of advance booking / pricing and now this looks to be adopted on bus travel. This will be about cost reduction and efficiency (revenue seat km) rather than convenience for the traveller.
You seem to dislike the word efficiency but this means better services for less money. And dynamic pricing isn’t only about advance tickets. If you’re looking to travel in the next hour, the price should also vary according to the loading of those services, to encourage you onto the quieter service.
What do the Japanese know about public transport?
Eh? You what? They have a functioning system?
Well then, bring it on. Lets see where this goes.
No doubt Hitachi will delver this Japanese ticket system on time and on budget however TfW uses the Jamaican Soon Come system and the Highways Departments the Spanish Mañana.
If you think Cardiff is bad try 3 different bus companies and £16 for a one way ten mile journey to Newport. You’d have to join the beggars in the bus station to get the fare home.
No, you’re wrong, Cymru does not use the Spanish Mañana system at all. It uses the Cymric Yfory system, something that doesn’t have the urgency of the Spanish Mañana!
I wonder, where does dreckly fit in the scale of urgency ?
I guess someone in TFW heard that Hitachi sell a wand, but didn’t Google any further?
What does this mean? Are you saying an integrated system isn’t needed, or that you believe Hitachi aren’t well placed to do it?