Norfolk selects Cityspace Vision

Clever Content Management system to deliver bus departures and council announcements in Norwich City Centre

NEC Birmingham, 4th November 2008 — Norfolk's Passenger Transport Group has selected Cityspace Vision, an integrated content management system from Cityspace, to deliver bus departures and public announcements to its network of information screens within Norwich City Centre.

Initially delivering scheduled bus departures, but moving to integrate real-time data feeds in the near future, the system will allow Norfolk County Council to own the content and control delivery of public announcements and promotion of Council services to the 22 screens at bus stops throughout the City Centre.

"Norfolk has seen bus passenger numbers grow significantly over recent years — bucking the national trend," said Jeremy Wiggin, Transport Development Officer, Passenger Transport Group.

"We're continuing to invest in making bus travel an attractive proposition to residents and visitors to Norwich, and the delivery of accurate departures and valuable public information through Cityspace Vision will further promote the ease and reliability of bus travel."

In addition to delivering scheduled and real-time bus departures to the existing network of screens at bus stops, the council plans to use Cityspace Vision to deliver timely and seasonal messages, from the promotion of bus passes and recycling facilities to drink driving awareness at Christmas, public events and important disruption announcements.

Funding by Norfolk County Council has transformed bus access to the city. Today, Norwich is easily accessible from its six Park & Ride sites, and has recently benefited from new bus priority measures, improved bus waiting facilities and a new bus station. This summer, the key bus interchange at Castle Meadow was designated a Low Emission Zone, ensuring improved air quality for passengers as well as shoppers. Norfolk has also been in the forefront of using satellite technology to ensure bus reliability, which has been developed through a partnership between the county council, bus operators and the system supplier.

Reduction of car pollution is central to the upkeep of the city's rich historic infrastructure. Around 194,000 people live in Norwich and its surrounding built-up areas, and the county population is over 832,000. As one of the UK's major tourist attractions, the city attracts thousands of visitors every year to its modern and medieval sites and boasts the largest open-air permanent market in the country and one of the finest Cathedrals.

"Nofolk County Council's Passenger Transport Group is a truly visionary organisation; with whom we share a common goal: to make public transport the travel mode of choice," says Guy Wolfenden, Director, Cityspace Transport.

"Norwich sets a true example of best practice by addressing the three key areas which most influence bus uptake: standard of facilities, reliability and passenger control. With its modern infrastructure, accessible bus routes and now information at the point of need, we expect to see bus uptake in Norwich to not only buck the trend, but to set it for the 21st Century."

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