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GO GEORGE commemorates 7 years of high-tech service to the George community

Issued 7 Dec 2021

Seven years ago, the first scheduled buses of George’s own public bus service departed from the York Street depot at 05:00 on 8 December 2014, rolling out Phase 1 of the George Integrated Public Transport Network (GIPTN).

Today, 24 of the planned routes have already been activated and are covering a network of 142 km, crisscrossing the streets of George, enabling residents to travel to work, school, medical and community services and shops anywhere in town.

“Although there have been many challenges along the way and we would have loved to have made further progress with more roll-outs to date, we are very proud of what we have achieved thus far,” says GO GEORGE Manager, James Robb. “Apart from the dedicated and hard-working workforce behind the bus service, the advanced level of technology keeping this intricate system running, is constantly developing and being customised to suit the needs of a top-class, scheduled public bus service such as GO GEORGE.”

Intelligent Transport System

The GIPTN has an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) that allows real-time remote monitoring of route and timetable adherence as well as several other operational performance indicators such as speeding, harsh braking and acceleration, and emergency calls from drivers. The system provides alerts in respect of deviations from any of the prescribed parameters and keeps an ongoing record of the mileage, idling times, standing times, etc. of all vehicles.

In parallel with vehicle tracking, buses are also fitted with on-vehicle cameras, linked to a tracking device, that allow the observation of the bus interior and “road ahead” views.

The ITS monitoring facility is based in the GIPTN control centre, in the same space as the GO GEORGE Call Centre, allowing real-time feedback to passengers phoning in, as well as the functionality to track older footage to investigate complaints. As the system is reliant on constant connectivity, there are, however, periods of frustration when service cannot be provided at the preferred level and speed, as is the case with many local businesses having to deal with unstable internet connection.

Vandalism

“A very sad reality of our operations is the constant vandalising of our buses and infrastructure,” says Robb. “The on-board cameras are definitely helpful in this regard and should act as deterrent for this kind of behaviour, but still, we do not see the decline one would expect. We are rolling out a focused anti-vandalism campaign this month and are aiming to change people’s attitude and get communities’ direct involvement in the new year, to help us stop vandalism.”

Automated Fare Collection

The GO GEORGE Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system replaced the interim paper ticket late in 2018. With over three years of operations, the AFC System has created a cashless tap-on solution that allows passengers to travel conveniently on the GO GEORGE bus service using their personal Smart Card.

Linked to the ITS, the AFC system is providing valuable insights that are being used to improve the quality of the GO GEORGE service for the commuters. Some of these insights include:

  • A better understanding of passenger travelling patterns to improve planning and ensure that bus scheduling decisions align with passenger demand data.
  • A more data-driven improvement of the Smart Card products sold using the AFC system to ensure that it meets the needs of passengers.
  • Development of strategic top-up vendor and mobile kiosk deployment to areas where boarding is high and trip top-up facilities low.

Digital fuel management system

At the George Link depot, three on-site diesel tanks with a combined capacity of 69 000 litres have been installed in 2018.

John Heathcote, George Link Operational Manager, says the saving to the Municipality by refuelling on site instead of driving several kilometres to do so at an outside vendor at the end of every day, is about R90 000 per month.

“We now fill up on site at the end of each shift. Managing the stock and consumption through a digital system allows me to be on top of everything from anywhere in the country through an application on my smartphone or laptop computer. Downloading the data in spreadsheet format, I can check each refill by bus fleet number, driver’s and fuel attendant’s identity and the amount of fuel that was taken in, from which pump,” Heathcote says.

This constant eye on the fuel consumption of each vehicle as well as on the driver handling the bus on that shift, also alerts management to excessive consumption which might call for a mechanical check-up or a look into the driver’s skills in terms of fuel economy.

People remain the core of the service

“Even though all the technological aids sound impressive, we are acutely aware that at the core of our services lie the attitude, dedication and perseverance of an amazing team of humans,” says Robb.

“There is often a perception that the system is designed and run by people who are far removed from the ground but in reality, every one of our team members spend many hours in the field every week, observing passenger behaviour and movement out on routes. This includes the entire management team – we are constantly reviewing data from reports, keeping an eye on complaints or requests coming through.

“There’s a drive and an effort across the organisation not to plan routes and schedules on a piece of paper, but to assess and walk things out on site, to touch and feel and see what the passenger would. We may not get it right all the time, but every challenge makes us want to try harder and do better to serve our community.”

CAPTION:

GO GEORGE and George Link management and staff gathered at the George Transport Hub in high spirits to sing “Happy birthday, GO GEORGE!”

GO GEORGE herdenk 7 jaar van hoë-tegnologie diens aan die George-gemeenskap

Uitgereik 7 Des 2021

Sewe jaar gelede het die eerste geskeduleerde busse van George se eie openbare busdiens op 8 Desember 2014 om 05:00 uit die Yorkstraat-depot vertrek en Fase 1 van die George Geïntegreerde Openbare Vervoernetwerk (GIPTN) uitgerol.

Vandag is 24 van die beplande roetes reeds geaktiveer en dek dit ‘n netwerk van 142 km wat die strate van George deurkruis en inwoners in staat stel om werk en skool toe as ook na mediese- en gemeenskapsdienste en winkels oral in die dorp te ry.

“Hoewel daar baie uitdagings langs die pad was en ons baie graag verder gevorderd sou wou wees, met meer fases uitgerol, is ons is baie trots op wat ons tot dusver bereik het,” sê GO GEORGE-bestuurder, James Robb. “Afgesien van die toegewyde en hardwerkende arbeidsmag agter die busdiens, word die gevorderde vlak van tegnologie wat hierdie ingewikkelde stelsel aan die gang hou, voortdurend ontwikkel en aangepas om aan die behoeftes van ‘n topklas, geskeduleerde openbare busdiens soos GO GEORGE te voldoen.”

Intelligente vervoerstelsel

Die GIPTN het ‘n Intelligente Vervoerstelsel (ITS) wat intydse afstandsmonitering van roete- en roosternakoming moontlik maak, asook verskeie ander operasionele gedragsaanwysers soos spoed, harde rem en -versnelling, en noodoproepe van bestuurders. Die stelsel vertoon waarskuwings ten opsigte van afwykings van enige van die voorgeskrewe grense en hou ‘n deurlopende rekord van die kilometers, luiertye, wagtye, ensovoorts van alle voertuie.

Samelopend met voertuigopsporing, is busse ook toegerus met kameras op die voertuie wat gekoppel is aan ‘n opsporingstoestel wat die waarneming van die binnekant van die bus en die pad voor die bus moontlik maak.

Die ITS-moniteringsfasiliteit is gebaseer in die GIPTN-beheersentrum, in dieselfde ruimte as die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum wat intydse terugvoering aan inbellers kan bied, asook die funksionaliteit om ouer beeldmateriaal op te spoor om klagtes te ondersoek. Aangesien die stelsel afhanklik is van konstante konnektiwiteit, is daar egter periodes van frustrasie wanneer diens nie op die verkose vlak en teen die nodige spoed verskaf kan word nie, soos die geval is met baie plaaslike besighede wat onstabiele internetverbinding moet hanteer.

Vandalisme

“‘n Baie hartseer werklikheid van ons bedrywighede is die konstante vandalisering van ons busse en infrastruktuur,” sê Robb. “Die kameras aan boord is beslis nuttig in hierdie verband en moet as afskrikmiddel vir hierdie soort gedrag dien, maar ons sien steeds nie die afname wat ‘n mens sou verwag nie. Ons ontplooi vandeesmaand ‘n gefokusde anti-vandalisme-veldtog en mik om mense se houding te verander en in die nuwe jaar gemeenskappe se direkte betrokkenheid te kry om ons te help om vandalisme te stop.”

Outomatiese tariefinvordering

Die outomatiese GO GEORGE-tariefinvorderingstelsel het die tussentydse papierkaartjie laat in 2018 vervang. Met meer as drie jaar in bedryf het die stelsel ‘n kontantlose skanderingsfunksie ontwikkel wat passasiers toelaat om die GO GEORGE-busdiens gerieflik te gebruik deur hul persoonlike Slimkaart te skandeer.

Gekoppel aan die ITS, bied hierdie stelsel waardevolle insigte wat gebruik word om die gehalte van die GO GEORGE-diens vir die passasiers te verbeter. Sommige van hierdie insigte sluit in:

  • ‘n Beter begrip van passasiers se reispatrone om beplanning te verbeter en te verseker dat busskeduleringsbesluite in lyn is met passasiersaanvraag.
  • ‘n Meer datagedrewe verbetering van die Slimkaartprodukte met behulp van die stelsel om te verseker dat dit voldoen aan die behoeftes van passasiers.
  • Ontwikkeling van strategiese ontplooiing van herlaaipunte en mobiele kiosks na gebiede waar opklimsyfers hoog is, en herlaaifasiliteite laag.

Digitale brandstofbestuurstelsel

George Link, die voertuigbedrysmaatskappy, het in 2018 drie dieseltenks met ‘n gesamentlike kapasiteit van 69 000 liter by die busdepot laat installeer.

John Heathcote, bedryfsbestuurder van George Link, sê die besparing aan die munisipaliteit deur op die perseel te hervul in plaas daarvan om etlike kilometers te ry om dit aan die einde van elke dag by ‘n buiteverkoper te doen, is sowat R90 000 per maand.

“Ons hervul nou op die terrein aan die einde van elke skof. Die bestuur van die voorraad en brandstofverbruik deur ‘n digitale stelsel laat my toe om deur ‘n toepassing op my slimfoon of skootrekenaar op hoogte van alles te bly vanaf enige plek in die land. Deur die data in sigbladformaat af te laai, kan ek elke hervulling nagaan deur middel van die busvlootnommer, die drywer en brandstofjoggie se identiteit, en die hoeveelheid brandstof wat ingeneem is, en uit watter pomp,” sê Heathcote.

Hierdie konstante oog op die brandstofverbruik van elke voertuig sowel as op die bestuurder wat die bus op daardie skof hanteer, waarsku ook die bestuur van oormatige verbruik wat ‘n meganiese ondersoek of die nagaan van die bestuurder se vaardighede in terme van brandstofekonomie kan vereis.

“Hoewel al die tegnologiese hulpmiddels indrukwekkend klink, is ons deeglik bewus daarvan dat die kern van ons diens in die houding, toewyding en deursettingsvermoë van ‘n ongelooflike span mense lê,” sê Robb.

“Daar is dikwels ‘n persepsie dat die stelsel ontwerp en bestuur word deur mense wat ver van grondvlak verwyder is, maar in werklikheid spandeer elkeen van ons spanlede elke week baie ure in die veld met waarneming van passasiersgedrag en beweging op roetes. Dit sluit die hele bestuurspan in – ons hou voortdurend data van verslae dop, asook klagtes of versoeke wat deurkom.

“Daar is ‘n dryfkrag en ‘n poging regoor die organisasie om nie roetes en skedules op ‘n stuk papier te beplan nie, maar om dinge op die terrein te evalueer en uit te tree, aan te raak en te voel en te sien wat die passasier sou doen. Ons kry dit dalk nie die hele tyd reg nie, maar elke uitdaging maak dat ons harder wil probeer en beter wil doen om ons gemeenskap te dien.”

ONDERSKRIF:

GO GEORGE- en George Link-bestuurslede en personeel het in vrolike luim by die George-vervoerkern (Transport Hub) bymekaargekom om ‘n verjaarsdagliedjie vir GO GEORGE te sing.