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Unread 27-06-2012, 12:29   #5
Colm Moore
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http://www.nationaltransport.ie/news...forireland-ie/
Quote:
New national, multi-operator Journey Planner now live at TransportforIreland.ie
27/06/12

The National Transport Authority’s new online National Journey Planner is now live at TransportforIreland.ie. It helps people plan journeys, door-to-door, anywhere in Ireland, using public transport. The Planner covers bus, rail, tram, taxis, ferries and walking – 120 operators in total – with fully mapped-out route information, printable timetables and details of overall journey times – all in one place.

For more information see here
http://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-c...-NTA-site1.doc
Quote:
Ireland’s first national Journey Planner now live:
TransportforIreland.ie

Minister Alan Kelly TD welcomes development,
encourages public feed-back on local trip details and short-cuts

Door-to-door travel options across all public and licensed transport
across the country to help people plan their journeys

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Public and Commuter Transport Minister Alan Kelly T.D. today (June 27, 2012) announced that the National Transport Authority’s new online National Journey Planner is now live and available for use at TransportforIreland.ie or with new Apps for Android and iPhone mobile devices. The service will help people plan their personal journeys from door-to-door, anywhere in Ireland, using public transport, and is the first of its kind in Ireland.

The Planner covers bus, rail, tram, taxis, ferries and walking – 120 operators in total – with fully mapped-out route information, printable timetables and details of overall journey times – all in one place.

While this is a significant new step in providing the public with fully integrated and accessible transport information, the National Transport Authority is actively encouraging people to use its specially created online Feedback channel to give specific feedback around their use of the Planner, and their opinion on its “look and feel” so that the service can continue to grow and improve.

The new Journey Planner takes account of over 9,600 bus stops across Ireland, 750 different routes, 152 train stations, and route and timetable information from 120 different transport providers. The location of footpaths, laneways, short-cuts, one way systems and QBC contraflows are also taken into account in the options being suggested to users.

Minister Alan Kelly said: “I welcome this major new development. I would encourage people to use it and to give their feedback. For the first time there is a one-stop-shop information point for all licensed and contracted public transport providers making planning journeys much easier. It is a real step forward in integrating public transport information for users.

“Nothing of this scope and extent has ever been available in Ireland before; we are now one of the few countries in Europe with a multi-operator service on a national basis. If people know of short cuts or walkways that are not covered in this map then it is important they give their feedback as the system has been developed to allow for the necessary input from the public.

“This Journey Planner adds to recently launched initiatives including real time information, electronic bus stop signs, the Leap card and bus fleet improvements which enhance the overall quality of public transport services.”

In the months ahead, the system will be integrated with the National Transport Authority’s Real Time Passenger Information service to provide immediate arrival information for all Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann stops across the country, as well as Luas and DART commuter services in Dublin. A cycle planner is currently being developed, initially for the Greater Dublin Area, and a special accessibility feature on the site, to assist those with mobility impairment. A new feature for Tour-Buses and their routes and services will be developed.

Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive, National Transport Authority, said: “The National Journey Planner brings together a very complex web of timetables, routes, stations, stops and terminus locations for multiple public transport providers into a single information service for everyone to use. People specify their origin and destination details and the time of their trip and they are given a short-list of up to six different options to get there.

“We have done a lot of work, incorporating all existing data-sets to bring the system to this stage, where we’re ready to present it to the public. The next stage requires input from members of the public. We really want to know about local walkways, links and barriers that we haven’t been able to pick up. We want to know how people feel about using the site – is it as clear as they want? Do they like it? Could it be better? An important Feedback channel has been set up to capture this input on TransportforIreland.ie, and we are encouraging members of the public to tell us about anything at all that we’ve overlooked. Our special technical team will be incorporating this important user information as they update and improve the Planner over the coming months.

“There are many additional services incorporated in the Journey Planner, whereby people can tailor-make journey options to suit their personal preferences. People can use the Advanced Settings feature to customise their walking time and speed, their willingness to make interchanges between services, or their preference for one travel mode over others. All operators’ timetables are available to view and print, as are descriptions and PDF maps of the walking links to services. Major attractions across the country, including museums, historic house and gardens, and beaches are also searchable – as origins or destinations – for day-trips.”

The National Transport Authority is also looking at the best means of incorporating the Rural Transport Programme into the National Journey Planner. There are currently 35 transport providers for this service. A pilot scheme is now underway with Clare Accessible Transport to test how demand responsive services can interchange with fixed route services.

The Authority is committed to an open approach to data, in line with the eGov Strategy 2012 and the Re-Use of PSI Directive. The best available data has been collected for use in the Journey Planner and open collaboration with the public will continue to drive that. The Authority will also offer the opportunity to the community of collaborators, designers and developers to make the most of the data available, after this public feedback phase is complete.


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Last edited by Colm Moore : 27-06-2012 at 12:36.
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