Bus Eireann has just launched a new digital media initiative which it claims is the first national service of its kind in Europeand which will make bus travel much more attractive to hundreds of thousands of bus users nationwide.
Andrew McLindon, PR manager for Bus Eireann says, “We really think that this will persuade people to get out of their cars and get onto the bus.” The service which is called whensmybus.ie enables commuters who wish to use the bus, to receive instant up to the second text and online information for arrival and departure times covering 330 national routes, and more than 700 road passenger fleet nationwide. Mr McLindon adds, “As far as we are aware this is the first national system in Europe of this degree. Other systems that you see in other European countries are city by city systems.”
Mr McLindon says that the system is extremely user friendly, “At the moment if you don’t know the code for your stop, you can go onto whensmybus.ie It’s very easy, you just put in the name of your stop, press accept and the five digit number comes up.” There are also some very convenient text, step by step, and video guides online to aid new users.
Mr McLindon says Bus Eireann has carried out comprehensive study and research into similar European projects while formatting the system. “We worked with Siemens in relation to this and they have a lot of experience, particularly in Germany, in introducing these kind of systems. Before we launched we did some focus testing with people to see what they thought of the system, and to tweak it and everything else.”
Mr McLindon says the feedback from the 10,000 or so customers using the site has been encouraging, and he is keen to give examples of the user friendly nature of the initiative.“You’re walking to the bus stop, you’re under a bit of pressure, you text the number; ahh yes the bus is coming in five minutes, I’m OK, I can relax, I don’t have to run to the bus stop anymore. Once you know your bus stop code, you can just programme it into your phone and text away and there’s only a standard text charge.”
Mr McLindon says the system is also extremely beneficial for internet users. “If you’re going to work in the morning you can log on to whensmybus.ie It is completely free and you see the bus is going to be there in 10 or 15 minutes, so that gives you a bit of comfort.”
