Using data to revolutionise public transport in COVID era
A group of women are transforming the way NSW travels during COVID-19 by helping passengers on trains, buses and ferries stay safe from the virus.
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A group of women are transforming the way NSW travels during COVID-19 by helping passengers on trains, buses and ferries stay safe from the virus.
The four “brains behind the data” are revolutionising public transport by developing systems to collect information in real-time, allowing commuters to see when services have reached social-distancing capacity.
The technology also allows Transport for NSW to quickly move marshalls to busy train and bus lines, as well as track and deploy fly-through cleaning squads to COVID hot spots.
Digital Customer Info Service director Sherrie Killiby says the work being undertaken by herself and three female colleagues is for the “greater good”.
“To know that your work is absolutely making a difference to how people travel and when they travel, and the decisions they make and the personal decisions they’re making as well … that’s really impactful,” she said.
The world-leading data has attracted the attention of other major cities investigating ways to make public transport COVID-safe, including Transport for London.
“What we’re doing ticked their boxes,” Data Enablement manager Yvonne Lee said.
The group has also been working closely with businesses to provide them with information to keep their employees safe when travelling to work.
Industry Engagement and Innovative Partnerships director Brooke Knox said: “I feel really proud of how we’ve all worked together and how we’ve collaborated.”