A pilot scheme to enhance mobility in rural Scotland will be underpinned by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo MaaS platform.
The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) GO-HI project has been established by Transport Scotland to improve accessibility to public transport services for residents and tourists in the country’s most rural and sparsely populated region.
The pilot project is due to go live in March 2021 and a GO-HI branded app powered by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo MaaS platform will provide residents and visitors in the Scottish Highlands and Islands with instant access to buses, trains, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire, air travel and ferries.
This will allow users to plan their journeys and find, book and pay for all modes of transport using any iPhone or Android mobile device.
The HITRANS region is home to 10% of Scotland’s population and accounts for approximately 50% of Scotland’s land mass. This includes long, remote coastlines, mountainous areas and many inhabited islands that currently create barriers to the movement and transportation of people and goods.
Ranald Robertson, director at HITRANS, said: “This pioneering project is an ambitious region-wide solution that has the potential to make a significant contribution to improve accessibility for residents and visitors.
“It addresses government ambitions to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging a modal shift from sole occupancy cars to shared cars and public transport alternatives.
“It will also help to create healthier lifestyles by improving the sustainable travel choices people can make in the region, including active travel opportunities.”
Marelise Hamar will lead the project, having joined HITRANS in May this year after making the move to the Highlands from the southeast of England.
Hamar said: “I am really excited to be part of this project using groundbreaking technology that will bring a real benefit to people across the Highlands and Islands.”
Project partners include Enterprise Car Club and Car Hire, Bewegen, Stagecoach Bus, West Coast Motors, Inverness Taxis, ScotRail, Loganair and SkedGo.
The participating transport providers will be able to access data about the demand for their services to help them better understand the needs of people in the region and to make more informed decisions about the provision of services.
GO-HI is being funded by the EU North Sea Region Stronger Combined project, and the Scottish government’s MaaS Investment Fund.
