Essex deploys Kizoom Smart Points at bus and rail interchanges

Network of state-of-the-art passenger information terminals will support public transport drive across Essex

London, 1 September 2009 – Essex County Council is rolling out a network of nine Kizoom Smart Points at major bus and rail interchanges to provide useful travel information and services for residents as part of a wider scheme to increase public transport uptake across the county.

Following the successful pilot of terminals in Chelmsford and Brentwood, the first two Smart Point deployments are underway at the central bus stations in Basildon and Braintree. The units will feature broadcast screens for bus and rail departures – with RTI and disruption news to be introduced later in the year - and important public information announcements. Interactive touch-screens will give people value added services such as journey planning, local maps, BBC News, weather and print outs.

"Delivering useful travel information at the point of need is critical to helping residents to chose the public transport option over the car," said Robbie Watson, Sustainable Travel Team Manager, Essex County Council.

"Kizoom's Smart Points will deliver the level of service we're aiming to provide – where it is most useful. Our pilot scheme showed that good transport information is most effective at the point where people need to make their travel decisions, so we're locating the terminals in the main rail and bus hubs.

This important network is part of the wider investment we're making in delivering travel information to the public where it's needed most; on-street, via the internet and on mobile devices. The Smart Point network will be served by Kizoom Vision content management, authoring and delivery system, which will manage real-time and scheduled information and public service announcements - really setting the benchmark for passenger information services anywhere in the country!"

The Smart Points in Basildon Southern Hay Bus Station and Victoria Street Bus Station in Braintree are expected to go live by the end of September with a further seven at rail and bus hubs in Harlow, Benfleet and Colchester to be deployed by the end of the year.

"Essex has been quick to recognise the value of Smart Point services, particularly when strategically located in transport hubs," said Tim Halford, Sales Manager, Kizoom.

"We've worked closely with the team at Essex to develop the most compelling content for passengers and are confident that this network will make a tangible impact on passenger numbers across the county."

Kizoom's Smart Points are modular by design, accommodating a combination of broadcast services for real-time departures, disruptions, news and other announcements; interactive services like online journey planning; help point for emergency or assistance calls and Permit to Travel ticketing.

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For further information, please contact:

Hannah Beauchamp
Marketing Assistant
Tel: +44 (0)20 7822 8510
Email:press@kizoom.com
www.kizoom.com

About Kizoom

Kizoom works on behalf of transport authorities and operators to transform multi-modal transport data into relevant and easy to digest information. It then delivers this information across a wide range of channels - the web, mobile phones, kiosks and screens - to enable the travelling public and transport professionals to make informed decisions.

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