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Flintshire County Council Now Live with Trapeze DRT Products

Software manages state-of-the-art scheme in Deeside area

24 March 2003 (Manchester, UK)—Trapeze Software announced today its products are operational in the new Deeside Shuttle service in Flintshire, Wales.

Officially launched yesterday by the Environment Minister for the Welsh Assembly Government, the Deeside Shuttle offers door-to-door demand responsive services for those living in Connah’s Quay, Shotton and Queensferry and commuting to work at five large employers in the area.

“Prior to the service, these employers had difficulty filling vacancies due to the lack of public transport services,” explains David Blainey, Transportation Officer with Flintshire County Council. “This service gives local people access to jobs in the community and allows them to commute to and from their shifts.”

The service runs 24 hours a day, seven days per week and charges £1 per journey or £5 per week. Accessible buses travel a set route with fixed stops, but will deviate from the route to collect and drop-off passengers. The software allows clients to book their travel by telephone or online through a Web-based booking service.

Flintshire County Council selected Trapeze DRT software to support registration, booking, scheduling, routing and dispatching for the demand response and route-deviated services.

“The software is essential to the success of this scheme, and others like it, Mr. Blainey says. “When our clients request travel, we are able to automatically schedule them on the most appropriate vehicle or help them plan future journeys. Our in-vehicle mobile computing units use GPRS to communicate with the driver so that we can dispatch buses and adjust services in real time.”

Operated by Arriva North West & Wales, the service is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by five tonnes per year and save 2,200 car journeys per week to and from Deeside Industrial Park.

The service is already receiving great reviews from local residents. “We had a woman call the other day to say the service has literally changed her life. She was paying for taxi service to and from work each day, and now with the shuttle, she is able to save £40 per week,” Mr. Blainey explains. “Others have told us they can now apply for vacancies at the five companies where before they had been unable to travel to the interviews.”

Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, the scheme is expected to serve as a model for similar services elsewhere in Wales, is expected to be expanded to other local areas.


Media Contact:
Chris Gough
0161 435 6009
media@trapezesoftware.co.uk