Traveline, the phone line service that provides thousands of people with essential public transport information, has celebrated ten years of operation.
Traveline, which is operated in North East England by Nexus, deals with around 5,000 calls a week from its call centre in Newcastle. It provides up to the minute information about bus, Metro and rail services for the North East and Cumbria.
Travellers can call to find the cheapest, quickest and most convenient way to go about their everyday journeys.
Traveline is a partnership of transport operators and local authorities formed to provide impartial and comprehensive information on public transport. It operates in Scotland, England and Wales.
It was the brainchild of John Prescott, who as Transport Secretary in 2000 had the idea of creating a nationwide integrated travel information service for public transport users across the UK.
Nexus celebrated Traveline’s tenth birthday at Gateshead Interchange, where bus and Metro passengers were treated to free slices of birthday cake. The cake was decorated with the familiar Traveline logo.
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “Traveline is a Nexus success story of the last ten years. As one of the region’s transport operators, it’s good to help Metro, bus and rail users to access timetables through this one dedicated service.”
Councillor David Wood, Chairman of the Tyne and Wear ITA, said: “It’s great to see that even in the age of the internet Traveline continues to flourish as a public service.
“Taking over 5,000 calls week shows people are keen to use a service that helps travellers with their daily journeys right across the whole of the North East region.”
David Holding, Regional Manager of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “Traveline has performed a vital function over the last ten years. It has made it easy for people to get essential travel information.
“Passengers generally ask what journey is possible the easiest ways for them to travel. Traveline answers these both quickly and easily.”
Traveline operates an online service where travel users can search for route information. Traveline also offers a SMS texting service called NextBuses which allows passengers to text the name of the bus stop they are at and get details the services that will pass through.
Passengers can call Traveline on 0871 200 2233. Further information is available at www.traveline.org.uk