Government Signal Intention to Exit Journey Planning
London (PRWEB UK) 8 September 2014 -- Since 2004, Transport Direct has offered, from its website, a UK-wide journey planner which includes travel details from Train, Bus and Airline companies as well as road and cycle journey planning data.
Now, after 10 years, the DfT has indicated that it is preparing to discontinue its online journey planning service, Transport Direct, due to the growth, over recent years, of services being developed and made available by companies in the private sector.
Following the completion of a review, the DfT issued a statement that reads “We have concluded that, subject to an assessment of the new national services and the provision of accessible travel itineraries for users with mobility limitations, it is no longer necessary for the Government to also provide journey planning services.”
“The Department will continue to publish data to migrate capability to others and also to liaise with interested parties. Once the assessment set out above has been completed, the minister will make a final decision on exiting from the Transport Direct service.”
As Marcus Ambler, Director of mapping services company Mfatech Maps points out; “Access to good quality, accurate transport and mapping data has made it possible for specialist private sector organisations like ourselves to develop much more effective systems that can operate not only nationally but also locally in conjunction with Local Authorities and other local organisations. We can even offer local maps that will tell mums when there is a crossing patrol “lollipop” man or woman on duty outside their children’s school!"
In fact, Mfatech Maps are developing a whole range of services around the core service of map data provision, including allowing organisations and groups to place their own data on top of the underlying map information. This would enable them to show, for example, safe routes for walkers that avoid busy roads wherever possible and to incorporate local statistical data such as crime figures and even real-time bus movements!
These maps can be used for a variety of purposes and incorporated into websites and mobile “apps” if required.
Marcus Ambler sums up the situation as follows: “It may be true that the government is pulling out of route planning and map provision for very good reasons but the public will find that companies like Mfatech Maps will more than make up for that with much more useful, informative maps and related products.”
Find out more about the future of mapping and how it could affect you, your business and your private life by visiting http://www.digital-map.org/index.php. Find out more about the Mfatech Journey Planner by visiting http://www.digital-map.org/journey_planner.php
Website: http://www.digital-map.org/index.php
Email: info(at)digital-map(dot)org
Telephone: 0207 871 1332
Contact name: Marcus Ambler
Marcus Ambler, Mfatech Maps, http://www.digital-map.org/index.php, +44 207 871 1332, [email protected]
Share this article