IN a move set to revolutionise the way people travel across Wales, Transport for Wales (TfW) has selected Hitachi Rail as its partner for a new five-year initiative aimed at digitally transforming public transport. The partnership will see the creation of a multimodal app that allows passengers to seamlessly plan, book, and pay for their journeys across different transport modes, from trains and buses to bikes and e-scooters.
Drawing on expertise from Japan’s world-renowned rail network, Hitachi will implement an all-encompassing digital booking system that simplifies access to public transport. This system will cover rail, local bus services, the fflecsi on-demand bus service, TrawsCymru coaches, and a range of micromobility options, including bicycles and e-scooters. Demand-responsive transport solutions already operational in Wales will also be integrated into the platform.
Hitachi’s experience, which includes handling over 50 million ticketing transactions daily across its global operations, will help ensure a smooth rollout of this ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) system. The aim is to create an accessible and sustainable travel solution that encourages more people to switch to public transport, reducing carbon emissions and easing congestion in both urban and rural areas.
Marie Daly, Chief Customer and Culture Officer at TfW, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “At TfW, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the customer experience and make public transport more appealing. This innovative digital solution will allow our customers to easily plan point-to-point journeys across multiple modes of transport. It’s part of our broader vision to provide one network, one timetable, and one ticket for the people of Wales. We look forward to working with Hitachi to bring their global expertise to our transport services.”
While many MaaS systems tend to focus on urban centres, this initiative is groundbreaking in its ambition to cover the entire country, including rural areas that often miss out on such digital advancements. This nationwide integration will make it easier for passengers to choose sustainable, low-carbon transport options, accelerating Wales’ green transformation.
Hitachi Rail’s deep expertise in digital systems integration, combined with its broad experience in mobility solutions, was a key factor in its selection as TfW’s technology partner. By utilising cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and Microsoft Azure technologies, Hitachi’s system will be designed to evolve and expand as more transport modes are added, ensuring the service can meet future demand.
Justin Southcombe, Commercial Director at Hitachi Rail, said: “This strategic partnership with TfW benefits from Hitachi’s vast experience in mobility and digital solutions. By integrating the latest in digital technology with our knowledge of managing some of the world’s most advanced transport systems, we aim to make public transport more accessible and user-friendly, helping to increase sustainable travel across Wales.”
The project also underscores Hitachi Rail’s broader vision to drive the mobility transition by digitally connecting different modes of transport, encouraging a shift towards more environmentally friendly travel.
Incorporating behavioural science research, undertaken in collaboration with Goldsmiths University, this initiative will also take into account human motivations in travel choices, ensuring the app is designed with the user experience in mind. Hitachi’s acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business in May 2024 further bolsters its capability to deliver such smart mobility solutions globally.
The innovative partnership between TfW and Hitachi Rail will be showcased at the global rail exhibition, InnoTrans, in Berlin this September, where Hitachi will exhibit its cutting-edge smart mobility solutions.
This MaaS project represents a major leap forward for public transport in Wales, making sustainable, integrated travel more convenient than ever before.
