MK Council Joins Local Real Time Passenger Information Consortium

15 January 2020, UK

Milton Keynes Council has joined the Cambridgeshire Consortium Bus Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system to deliver real time passenger information across the city.

MK Council joins six other local authorities led by Cambridgeshire County Council, including Peterborough City Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council. The consortium was established to provide a consistent, reliable source of bus real time information across the regions bus network and provide best value delivered through shared services.

Since 2007, the Consortium system designed and delivered by Vix Technology has grown significantly, covering all routes in the consortium region, including the award-winning Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, Luton-Dunstable Guided Busway and all of the region’s bus interchanges. With the recent addition of Milton Keynes Council the Vix RTPI system now supports 7 local authorities, 40 bus operating companies, and has capacity for 10,000 vehicles, 2,000 displays and traffic signal priority at all the regions signal facilities.

In June 2020 Milton Keynes confirmed the move to migrate all of their real time assets to the Vix Consortium. This included upgrading and recommissioning 96 in-shelter real time displays, installing 9 new off route totem displays and a brand-new customer management tool. From the beginning the Council was integrated and staff fully trained within 4 months. The project was completed on budget and ahead of schedule, with real time predictions on public transport being available to the public throughout.

Adele Wearing, strategic lead for passenger transport at Milton Keynes Council said, “The transition to the new systems now means noticeable improvements for passengers which also includes new signs at the MK Central Station. The RTPI links in with the MyBusTrip and allows passengers to check schedules and predicted departure times for their stops.”

Dan Jacklin, lead project manager for Vix Technology said, “Providing passengers with live information that lets them use public transport services effectively is critical to driving adoption. The integration has gone as planned and we are very pleased to have Milton Keynes as part of the Consortium.

“With over 20 years’ experience in passenger information systems, and with a programme of enhancements to meet the future needs of passengers and cities, Vix continues to be at the forefront of passenger information systems in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We look forward to working with Milton Keynes and providing solutions to best suit the needs of the public.”