The development of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in the UK is outlined with emphasis on information and communications. ITS allows passenger information to be available at bus stops and in train stations. Transport Direct, a Department for Transport initiative will present full journey planning information for all public transport services on their website. A hypothetical journey using technology that is already developed is described. This relates to buying and paying for tickets, using smart card licences to access cards, driver information and rescheduling or rerouting journeys to prevent delays. The provision of automatic response systems coupled with accurate location systems to enable the emergency services to respond to incidents is outlined.
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