Masternaut maps out a better route for Hillingdon’s passenger transport services
The London Borough of Hillingdon is using new computerised route planning and live satellite tracking to boost its passenger transport services. The new technology, supplied by Masternaut, replaces traditional ‘pins on board’ routing. Using a PC package called TourSolver, vehicle utilisation is optimised and the best routes are mapped out for each of the council’s 21 buses. Satellite tracking then gives live information of the progress of each vehicle, logging routes and times to automatically record service provision.
Hillingdon provide services from homes to day care centres, schools and other community facilities. With many elderly and disabled passengers, specially equipped Rohill mini-buses provide easy access and facilities for wheelchairs. The schedules change continually and 60 different routes have to be worked out every day; a complex process taking considerable time. TourSolver automates this work, assigning the best vehicle and route, with results shown on screen and an electronic schedule that can be transmitted to PDA devices mounted in a vehicle’s dashboard cradle.
“Name and address details from our database are simply sent to TourSolver which then does all the work for us, working out the pick ups and drop offs in the best order” says Martin Robinson, Passenger Services Manager at Hillingdon. “Then we track each vehicle live on-screen to keep a check on progress and if required, re-route immediately if extra pick ups are needed or even if traffic problems are ahead.”
Services provided by council’s like Hillingdon are continually under scrutiny and because they involve the most needy residents, good service is very important. “Masternaut automatically generates e-mail reports listing the precise movements and timings of each vehicle. We can check how we are doing and pinpoint possible areas of improvement. We can also quickly resolve any disputes since we are armed with proper evidence of service. With this improved control and better information, Masternaut is already proving to be a key asset” says Robinson.
Masternaut, Priory Park, Great North Road, Aberford, LEEDS LS25 3DF
Telephone: 0113 2814000
Fax: 0113 2814009
e-mail: info@masternaut.co.uk
Website: www.masternaut.co.uk