Access real-time travel details on your phone

Published 25 Sep 2008 02:00 0 Comments

THE end of traffic congestion has moved a step closer as the result of a pioneering trial in Reading.

The £1.8million project is the first in Europe to use high-security WiMax radio frequencies from the Ministry of Defence to share travel information.

A website and mobile phone service have been set up to display maps of the town, with constantly updated news about accidents and delays.

Marc Allen, ITS manager for Reading Borough Council, said: "It will help people get the information they want. If you wanted to go into town to pick someone up from the station, you could register to get an email or text to let you know if the train was delayed."

The system also provides up-to-date information on which car parks have spaces, what's on at the cinema, where the nearest cashpoints, post offices and bus stops are and details of local attractions.

Ron McDonald, from consulting engineers Peter Brett Associates, said: "You can find out how to get from your origin to your destination with real time information, so if something changes and there is a problem, you can be told the next best solution to get to your destination. What we've tried to demonstrate is the benefit of the application of the latest communication technology to local authority provided services. This is about using RBC's data to enable more efficient delivery of goods and services in Reading."

The trial started last year and combined the short-wave WiMAX frequency with Wi-Fi and mobile phone 3G communications services.

During a conference at Reading Town Hall delegates explored sharing live travel information using John Lewis delivery lorries - helping them avoid delays - and displaying information in buses.

Developments that may be used in the future include a phone service that shows travellers how to get to their destination by public transport.

Travellers may also be able to pay for car parking and bus rides by phone.

The trial was led by Peter Brett Associates, the council, Metranet Communications, Southampton University's Transport Research Group, Connexions, Telematix, Orange, Transept Consulting and Euro-Baltic Software Alliance.

The partners paid for half the cost and successfully bid for the South East England Development Agency to pay the remainder.

To see the information maps visit www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk or get it on most Java-enabled phones by texting "metro" to 60070 for the cost of a text.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 25 Sep 08

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