merrion street

• Over 500 Street Signs for Greater Dublin Area with Testing to commence in Cork
• One-number text service for all real-time bus transport to come
• iPhone and Android Apps and an API at advanced stage
• Roll-out next year in Galway, Limerick, Waterford.

Minister with responsibility for public and commuter transport Alan Kelly TD today (21 July 2011) announced further enhancements to the roll-out of real-time passenger information for public transport bus passengers across Ireland.

Over 300 Real-Time Bus Information signs will be displayed in Dublin by September, bringing that total to over 500 between Dublin and Cork by year end. There will be a live text service to come online in autumn with a smart phone app service to follow shortly after.

Speaking today, Minister Kelly said: "We have to make the commuting experience more convenient and we are embracing technology to do that,"

"With the new developments being rolled-out in the coming months, gone will be the days of staring into the distance wondering when the bus is going to come. Getting real-time information on services removes the stress factor from this. We will have in the region of 500 real-time bus signs displayed between Dublin and Cork by year end. We will be commencing testing in Cork shortly which will lead to a roll-out after that," he stated.

As part of the Real-Time Information Strategy, a live text and app service is currently being developed and will be online in the Greater Dublin Area this autumn.

A text service and a live app-service are also to come on stream for the areas that will not have a real-time bus information sign. The National Transport Authority along with Dublin Bus & Bus Eireann and Dublin City Council are working to deliver this service which will greatly enhance public transport in Ireland.

"We will also be rolling out a one-number text service along with smart-phone app. The idea is that you can text your bus-stop number to a single number and you will then receive a text telling you how long the bus will be. This builds on existing sites such as whensmybus.ie, but the new one-number text service and smart-phone app will provide an integrated, one-stop-shop for information on services."

Minister Kelly continued: "The Programme for Government recognises the need to rebalance transport policy to favour public transport and in order to get people out of their cars, and onto public transport, we need to change our perception of how we plan our journeys. Too many of us automatically assume the car is the only option, but public transport services have improved significantly and we have to make it an attractive option for people."