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Canberra takes to NXTBUS

Since the August launch of a real time bus travel app in Canberra, hit rates have climbed to almost 2000 a day

Nearly 2,000 requests a day are being made for live bus data via the NXTBUS SMS and web services since its Canberra launch in August.

ACT Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury says ACTION’s NXTBUS system, which allows people to track bus departure times, has been proving popular with bus passengers since it went fully live in July.

“NXTBUS makes finding out when the next bus departs from your chosen location easier,” he says.

“Passengers can look up bus departure times by bus stop ID, route or location and get live results for the next 90 minutes.

“They can also see if the bus is wheelchair accessible or equipped with bike racks.”

Rattenbury says in the first week of full operation, 3388 requests were made to the SMS service but this has now increased to over 4000 per week.

Website visits have increased from 338 in the first full week of operation to about 8000 each week.

Rattenbury says a subscription service will soon be launched, allowing passengers to subscribe to email and SMS alerts for selected routes or bus stops.

“As part of the NXTBUS project, 19 display screens have been installed at bus stations across Canberra with additional screens to be installed at Barton Bus Station.

“A new ACTION information centre was also opened in the City bus station on Alinga Street to provide a space for the public to access the latest ACTION information including timetables, news and service updates.”

The NXTBUS project is part of a suite of improvements to Canberra’s public transport.

“Other improvements include the purchase of 77 new low emission and more comfortable buses, the dedicated bus lane on Canberra Avenue, as well as new ‘park and ride’ and ‘bike and ride’ facilities,” Rattenbury says.

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