Data sharing to transform travel

Bus passengers up and down the country are set to benefit from easier journeys with up-to-the-minute information under plans to be announced by the buses minister.

Nusrat Ghani will visit Reading Buses to launch a consultation on legally requiring bus operators to share their data so that passengers can get real time information on bus routes, timetables and fares at their fingertips.

It will also look at making companies provide audio and visual information on buses, ensuring disabled people and the elderly are able to travel confidently.

Together, the two initiatives will ensure that passengers have the information they need, when they need it, regardless of their location and the company running the service.

Buses minister Nusrat Ghani said, ‘By requiring bus operators to share their data, we can make sure that passengers have the information they need to catch the bus with ease, equipped with the right information about the time and cost.’

Requiring bus companies to share their data would pave the way for improved information across all modes of transport, meaning quicker, easier journeys for passengers travelling on more than one form of transport.