Buses, trains and ferries are going on-demand, in a trial that marks the first step towards binning the timetable.
Expressions of interest will be released in December 2016 with responses from industry due by February 2017. Following an evaluation period, all pilot programs are expected to be operational by the end of 2017.
NSW Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance announced a trial of public transport services that arrive when and where commuters need them.
“We have Netflix, Stan, and Foxtel to give us movies on demand – so why can’t we have our public transport respond to where people are and what they want?” Mr Constance said.
“Imagine a NSW where you don’t need to check the timetable because the right numbers of trains, buses or ferries arrive when and where they need to. This future is not far off if we are quick off the mark today."
Data including how people travel, weather, and special events will be used to create public transport planning changes in real time – a timetable that is flexible and responds to what customers need.
“I want to see the end of timetables, and a network that can cut down on travel delays by automatically putting on extra trains in wet weather or extra buses from a footy team’s home suburbs to away games,” Mr Constance said.
Mr Constance said the trials could include special bus services on suburban routes that respond to where and when extra buses are needed.
“But we want the biggest ideas from the best minds in innovation and technology to get cracking on this – they know better than the government does, and I don’t want to restrict their imagination,” Mr Constance said.