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Real-time technology for QLD

Passengers in south east Queensland will be able to track public transport in real-time next month

South east Queensland passengers will soon be able to track their buses, trains, ferries and trams on their smartphones or online.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson has announced new technology will enable real-time travel information will be installed across the region from next month.

“This new technology is all part of our strong plan for a brighter future to improve public transport for Queenslanders and boost the local economy,” he says.

“Real-time technology enables passengers to know exactly where their bus is in the morning which could mean enough time for an extra cup of coffee with the family before leaving the house.

“When finishing work for the day passengers will be able tell how far away their train is, avoiding extra time waiting at the station.”

 New driver console units will use GPS, combined with mobile communications on each vehicle, to track the exact location and movements of services, with arrival times updated every 30 seconds on the TransLink website.

“Previous real-time trials have proven too expensive, but working with Cubic, we’ve been able to deliver good value for Queensland taxpayers,” says Emerson.

“Public transport users will see more than 3,000 existing driver console units on their bus and ferry services replaced with the new, modern devices to enable real-time info over the coming months.”

Cubic Australasian Managing Director Tom Walker says the new technology delivers a number of behind the-scenes efficiencies set to benefit TransLink passengers.

“This technology allows vehicles to download data away from the depot, meaning customers will be able to view their go card travel histories within 30 minutes,” he says.

Sunshine Coast buses will be the first to be equipped with passengers benefiting from the real-time technology by the end of the year with the rest of the south east Queensland network to follow by early 2015.

Brisbane-based company Queensland Connectors and Cables will be a major supplier for this project.

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