‘Game changer’: Tassie to get real-time live tracking of bus and ferry services

It has been a long time coming but Tasmania will this year see the start of real-time live tracking of bus services. But there’s no sign of when suspended Metro services will be back.

A metro bus at Elizabeth Street Mall, after the announcement that there will be cuts to bus services. Picture: Linda Higginson

In what is being hailed as a “game changer’, Tasmanians will be able to get real-time live tracking of bus and ferry services – but Metro is still unable to say when 180 suspended services will be reinstated.

The services were temporarily suspended last August due to a driver shortage.

Transport Minister Eric Abetz said there was a shortage of 25,000 drivers across Australia, including 500 in South-East Queensland and “Tasmania unfortunately is not immune from that labour shortage”.

Metro CEO Katie Cooper said a 10 per cent pay rise from the government had made a “big difference” to recruiting drivers but challenges still existed.

“We are intending to introduce services on a staged basis, when we can really be confident that that sustainability and that reliability is going to exist,” she said.

“I’m not putting dates or times to that yet, because it does require us to achieve certain milestones to do that and relies on recruitment and retention of our employees.

“The idea behind the temporary service adjustment was always to try and provide reliability and certainty for our customers and we’ve absolutely achieved that. You can see the number of dropped trips we have currently has really reduced.”

Transport Minister Eric Abetz, Metro driver Ryan McPherson and Metro CEO Katie Cooper announce real-time bus tracking.

Mr Abetz said having live information would allow people to be ready at their bus stop at the right time and “provide peace of mind and help you to plan ahead when using public transport.”

“Online tracking is going to be a game changer for the customers of our public transport system,” he said.

“The customer experience will be substantially enhanced, because they’ll be able to track their bus in the event that there’s a traffic jam, in the event that there’s been a mechanical breakdown or whatever. Customers will be able to track the bus and understand what the delay might be.”

The live tracking will begin in Metro buses in Hobart in December and then extended but will not include school buses.

Mr Abetz defended the time it had taken to get real-time tracking saying “things never come early enough, but the good news is it’s coming”.

“Certainty and reliability are very important for all of us.

“You’ll be able to easily see how far away your bus or ferry is so you can be at your stop as it approaches.”

Buses and ferries will transmit GPS data, which is then published in real time to a range of free websites and mobile apps.

It will allow customers to view the location of a bus or ferry on an online map, follow its progress and see predicted arrival times.

Mr Abetz said State growth was still working on a new ticketing system.

Live tracking will be rolled out on buses operated by Metro Tasmania, Tassielink, Kinetic, Manions Coaches, Calows Coaches and the Derwent Ferries.

Originally published as ‘Game changer’: Tassie to get real-time live tracking of bus and ferry services