Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has partnered with CitySwift to deploy AI technology to improve the performance of its Bee Network buses.
Through this partnership, TfGM will be the first franchised transport authority in the UK to use AI to deliver more reliable, frequent and quicker bus journeys.
This will advance its goal of growing bus usage by around 30 percent by 2030 from 2022/2023 levels since launching the Bee Network. This increase equates to nearly 50 million additional bus journeys annually.
To drive this growth, TfGM is aiming to deliver a more integrated, user-friendly, and frequent network and is deploying better infrastructure to facilitate more reliable bus journeys.
CitySwift will play a major role in this transition thanks to its performance optimisation platform.
This platform leverages advanced analytics, simulations, and optimisations to provide operators and transport authorities with insights, recommendations, and predictions, supporting them in delivering efficient, reliable and in-demand services.
Brian O’Rourke, CEO and Co-founder of CitySwift said:The goals and vision set out in the Great Manchester Bus Strategy speak clearly to our mission at CitySwift - grow patronage with frequent and more reliable buses. I am thrilled that we’re partnering with TfGM, supporting them in achieving this goal through our transport data-solutions, as we continue to build the smart cities of the future.
Under this partnership, CitySwift will provide TfGM with performance data across the entire Bee Network. This data will help identify trends and pain points such as traveller destinations and service performance. TfGM can then recognise where improvements should be made to benefit passengers.
In addition, TfGM will leverage CitySwift’s Spotlight product, which provides intelligent recommendations for bus network enhancements.
These AI-powered insights will analyse performance and resource parameters such as timeliness, cost, and vehicle numbers by scanning the whole network. It can then propose ROI improvements.
Catherine Towey, Senior Lead for Bus Franchising at TfGM said:Customers are at the heart of the Bee Network and by working with CitySwift we will be able to see more clearly than ever how services are performing.
We can then use this information prioritise improvements and deliver a better service for passengers.
