Arriva signs €10 million with leading technology provider

Thetis will supply and maintain transport fleet management and passenger information systems. These custom-made systems will include Real Time control of buses, Real Time Passenger Information feeds and displays, electronic ticketing, video surveillance, passenger counting and the barrier and ticket management of the three Park and Ride sites. This technology will be supported by comprehensive back office and control centre systems, also provided by Thetis.

Passengers will benefit from a well-managed network and more passenger information than ever before. As part of the Real Time Passenger Information provision, the control centre will send bus arrival information to around 100 electronic displays at bus terminals and bus stops.Buses will also feature next stop displays and announcements to help those on board keep track of where they are on their journey.

Keith Bastow, Managing Director for Arriva in Malta, said,“This significant investment in customer-focused technology underlines Arriva’s commitment to delivering a first class service for passengers. The high level of technology will aid the smooth running of our services as well as providing passengers with up-to-the-second, accurate information about the services they wish to travel on. Helping passengers and potential passengers better plan their journeys, and know what is happening, is extremely important in meeting the high levels of customer satisfaction we are aiming for.”

Thetis has considerable expertise in innovative technology solutions for transport, having already been involved in the development of high profile intelligent mobility systems in Italy – Venice, Bologna and Rome – as well as China and India. One such example was the design and provision of GPS management for special bus lines during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Keith Bastow commented, “Thetis has a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge technology for sustainable transport systems within challenging time constraints, and we are confident with their technological creativity and innovation and our transport expertise and excellent operational track record across many different countries, we can work together to put in place a tailor-made transport system that the people of Malta will benefit from.”