Transport for Wales (TfW) has selected Hitachi to help digitally transform public transport within Wales, seeking to streamline planning, booking and paying for different modes of travel.
Over the next five years, Hitachi will deliver a multimodal digital booking system that will include all modes of public transport and be available to customers through a simple, user friendly app.
Rail, local bus, fflecsi (a trial demand-responsive bus service) and TrawsCymru services will all be available to plan and book through the one digital back-office solution from Hitachi, as well as a host of other micromobility (bikes, e-scooters) and demand-based mobility solutions already being used in Wales.
Chief customer and culture officer at TfW, Marie Daly, said: “At TfW we’re always looking to improve the customer experience and in doing this we want to attract more people to our public transport network.
“This exciting and ambitious project will deliver a digital solution that will help our customers plan point to point journeys using different modes of public transport.
“It’s all part of our longer-term plans and aspirations to provide our customers with one network, one timetable and one ticket.
“We look forward to working with Hitachi and bringing this global expertise to public transport in Wales.”
Hitachi is reportedly leveraging its digital expertise from its involvement in ticketing on the Japanese rail network and various initiatives in Italy to develop a bespoke Mobility as a Service product for Wales.
Currently, 50 million multimodal ticketing transactions taking place every day using Hitachi Rail ticketing technology – expertise which TfW aims to harness on its comparatively smaller system.
Commercial director at Hitachi Rail Justin Southcombe said: “This strategic partnership with TfW will benefit from the breadth of mobility, digital and behavioural science expertise that exists in the Hitachi Group.
“Hitachi can combine the latest in cutting-edge digital technology, with deep knowledge of managing some of the world’s most popular transport systems, to better connect journeys.
“By making public transport more accessible and user-friendly, Hitachi can help increase sustainable travel in Wales.”
Achievements and innovations in MaaS will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
