Lyons, G. and Harman, R. (2002) The UK public transport indus- try ...

The TransXChange project (http://www.transxchange.detr.gov.uk) aims to establish
protocols and system for exchanging information on bus timetables between operators,
Traffic Commissioners and local authorities by electronic means. TransXChange is a
standard for data records, aimed at facilitating electronic bus registration and providing a data
interchange format for use by Traveline. Development of the protocol and systems clearly
offers major potential for integrated public transport information within the context of the
Transport Direct approach as described below.
4.4 Transport Direct
This project being led by the DETR signals the nature of future developments in the UK
beyond Traveline. It was first announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in December 1999
and is outlined in ‘Transport 2010’. Government considers that a major contribution to
delivering a higher quality, better-used public transport system will come from innovative
developments in the provision of integrated transport information and retailing. Working
closely with transport operators, local authorities and technology providers, these
developments will be brought together as 'Transport Direct', a project to provide a
comprehensive national service for the travelling public. Transport Direct aims to help people
to plan their journeys, and to compare routes and prices. By 2003 it is expected to include:
- real-time (actual rather than timetabled) train operating information
- real-time information on many local bus services
- multi-modal travel information on the Internet, covering journeys by road and public
transport modes at a single point of contact
- booking of long-distance multi-modal journeys on the Internet
- development of Internet-based maps.
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