11/7/2011 - HITRANS Autumn 2011 Newsletter
Catch the news- our latest update following the HITRANS Board meeting in Stornoway on 7th October 2011
Campbeltown to Glasgow Bus Route Development
The Partnership considered a progress report on the kick start project that has seen the Campbeltown to Glasgow coach service greatly enhanced with improved frequency and new coaches. The project is a partnership with Scottish Citylink, West Coast Motors, Argyll and Bute Council and HITRANS. Patronage has increased by up to 30%. Five new coaches for the route were launched at Inveraray Castle by Sir Brian Souter of Stagecoach.
START Project Progress
Interrreg IVB ERDF funding worth almost €800k has delivered the following projects this year: real time passenger information 74 buses in Argyll and Bute; free wifi on coaches operating between Inverness and Aberdeen; real time passenger information displays in Orkney; support for the JET bus service to Kirkwall Airport; new Airport Customer Information Systems at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree.
Travel Information Bad Weather Alert System
£40k has been allocated towards the development of an online travel information system to provide access to live eye cameras that show congestion and weather/road conditions. The Travel Highland website will go live before the end of 2011. Locations for live eye camera coverage will include: Inverness City Centre and Arterial Routes – 8 sites at congestion hot spots, A832 Achnasheen, A835/A837 Ledmore, B9176 Struy, A941 Fogwatt, A939 – location to be confirmed.
Traveline Scotland Blackberry Smart Phone App
The Blackberry App, funded by HITRANS and SPT through START, has been launched and can be downloaded from Blackberry App World free of charge.
Giant Puffin
Development on the itinerary and journey planning website is underway with an anticipated launch in late spring 2012. The project valued at €240k is funded by ERDF, HITRANS and HIE.
Consultations
HITRANS has responded to the following consultations that could have significant implications on transport services in the Highlands and Islands: A Sustainable Framework for Aviation in the UK (DfT); Extending Local Bus Registration and Bus Service Operators Grant to Demand Responsive Transport (Scottish Government).
Community Transport
The Value of Community Transport Economic Analysis has been completed and is available on our website. This research has been delivered to capture the value community transport services bring to the communities they serve and the true cost that would be felt should these services be withdrawn. The work focused on five projects to consider how different types of community transport provision operate.
New HITRANS Website
HITRANS has launched an upgraded website at www.hitrans.org.uk . The new site streamlines access to information on HITRANS projects, research and corporate documents.
More information can be found at www.hitrans.org.uk