ACT Territory and Municipal Services Directorate – Media Release
ACTION is undertaking a four week trial of tweeting up to the minute service updates during the weekday morning peak period.
Service delivery information will be ‘tweeted’ between 7.30 am to 9 am from Monday to Friday until 18 May 2012.
“While ACTION delivers around 99.5% of all its services, bus breakdowns and driver absences can result in last minute service cancellations. The ACT Government wants to undertake a trial of letting people know when their bus has been cancelled or delayed so they can consider alternative plans, particularly if they are travelling on a low frequency route,” Director, ACTION, James Roncon said.
“ACTION will then evaluate the costs and benefits of providing this service. This will include measuring take-up of the service, whether it has been useful in providing timely and reliable information to commuters and how resource-intensive it has proven.
“ACTION commuters are essential to this trial with feedback welcomed via Twitter as well as an online survey to gauge the usefulness and timeliness of the information provided,” Mr Roncon said.
ACTION launched its Twitter feed – @ACTIONbuses – in October last year to provide information on major service disruptions, changes to routes and timetables, event-related transport information and consultation opportunities relating to ACTION. It has so far built up over 780 followers.
“The use of Twitter is just one way the ACT Government is aiming to improve information sharing. We are also currently working on implementing a real-time passenger information system which is due for release in 2013,” Mr Roncon said.
“It is expected the system will provide the community with real-time arrival and departure information through both smart phones and on display boards at bus stations and major stops.
“ACTION recognises that improving information delivery to passengers is a key way to encourage more people to use public transport.
“ACTION users also have access to the online and smartphone enabled Trip Planner through Google Transit which enables passengers to plan customised point-to-point trips from their desktop or mobile,” Mr Roncon said.
ACTION’s Twitter feed is @ACTIONbuses
