Transport for Wales and CitySwift announce pilot programme

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO and Alan Farrelly, CitySwift COO recently attended the 36th British-Irish Council Summit in Cardiff with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, First Minister of Wales the Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, government ministers and business leaders.

The event on Friday November 19th included an Enterprise Ireland led session celebrating Ireland’s contribution to Wales’ sustainable recovery and economic wellbeing, with a focus on Irish companies that are making a positive impact on Welsh citizens’ lives. 

During this session, TfW and CitySwift announced their partnership on a pilot programme to optimise public transport services in Wales using data and machine learning. The programme aims to deliver efficiencies and improve service levels across the country’s bus network. 

Speaking about the partnership, James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said: “Transport for Wales is transforming transport throughout Wales and the borders with an investment programme into all forms of public transport. Our partnership with CitySwift will allow Welsh bus operators to use modern AI technology to gather data, understand new travel patterns and make more informed data-driven decisions.

“This pilot scheme will help us improve bus services for the people of Wales and will assist us in encouraging people to make that modal shift from using private cars to sustainable public transport which is key to tackling climate change.”

 

“This pilot scheme will help us improve bus services for the people of Wales and will assist us in encouraging people to make that modal shift from using private cars to sustainable public transport.”

Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales added: “Enhancing our public transport system is a vital part of our work to cut emissions and reduce our impact on climate change. The Welsh Government’s target is for 45% of journeys to be made by sustainable modes by 2040. It is great to see that technology and data is being used to develop efficiencies and growth in this sector.”

 

“Enhancing our public transport system is a vital part of our work to cut emissions and reduce our impact on climate change.”

The partnership with TfW will demonstrate CitySwift’s ability to deliver effective strategies for transport authorities – as we have done with major transport operators in the UK, including National Express and Go-Ahead Group. 

Brian O’Rourke, CitySwift CEO commented: “Transport for Wales is taking a positive step by embracing data and AI in a smart, innovative way to improve journey times, reliability and enhance the on-board experience for passengers.

“As new mobility patterns emerge, due to the pandemic and the need to reduce carbon emissions, there is a lot to learn from big data about changing trends and how best to plan and shape bus services for the future. Our data-driven planning technology will help ensure that Transport for Wales can provide sustainable travel and deliver the highest-quality, safe and reliable journeys for the Welsh public. We hope other public transport authorities follow suit.” 

 

“Our data-driven planning technology will help ensure that Transport for Wales can provide sustainable travel and deliver the highest-quality, safe and reliable journeys for the Welsh public.”

Alan Farrelly with FM Mark Drakeford, Taoiseach Michael Martin, TfW CEO James Price and Marina Donohoe from EIMarina Donohoe, Director UK and Northern Europe at Enterprise Ireland, Transport for Wales CEO James Price, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and CitySwift COO Alan Farrelly (left-right)

Interested in learning how CitySwift can optimise your bus network? request a demo or contact us to discover how we can help.