Transport Direct (Hansard, 22 July 2002)

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent changes to Transport Direct. [70738]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The Transport Direct team is currently in the process of letting a contract for construction of a web portal, which will be the initial means of distributing Transport Direct. The contract will be let in the autumn with the first stage of the portal to be ready in 2003, in line with the targets set out in the 10-year plan.
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Transport Direct is also extending the number of real time information systems for travellers. £20 million was recently given to 19 local authorities to improve bus real time information; schemes are to be in place by the end of 2003. Transport Direct is working with the rail industry and Strategic Rail Authority to extend rail real time information. Work is also continuing on developing standards and technical details for the extension of real time information systems.
My Department has recently appointed Nick Illsley as Transport Direct Chief Executive to carry the Transport Direct programme forward.

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted for his Department on Transport Direct; and if he will make a statement. [170736]

§ Mr. Jamieson
We are currently undertaking a programme of market research to support Transport Direct. This programme is designed to tell us what specific characteristics and features the service should possess in order to satisfy the requirements of its prospective users; what demand there will be for the service; and what it will be used for. The results of this research will be disseminated in due course.
A review of existing travel information systems, and recommendations for Transport Direct, was conducted last year. The report can be viewed on the Department's website at "http://www.dft.gov.uk/itwp/transdirect/travinf/pdf/travinf.pdf".
Research has also been completed on standards, and standards-like initiatives, likely to be relevant to Transport Direct. The study also considered whether any further standards needed to be developed in order to ensure that Transport Direct is successful. The report can be viewed at: http://www dtlr.gov.uk/itwp/transdirect/standards/index.htm
We are also researching areas related to the overall Transport Direct vision. For example, we will shortly place a contract for market research to inform us as to the future direction on behalf of the traveline service.
A study is under way into the business case for bus real-time information. This work aims to provide a tool for Local Authorities and transport operators which would quantify the benefits of such systems and thus facilitate their development and adoption. We also hope to publish best practice advice.
We also have some minor contracts which include research into putting cycling into journey planners and preparatory work for the business plan. We hope to publish the cycling study on the DfT website very soon.