A passenger wearing a face mask on a bus in Newcastle, England. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images … [+]
The U.K. government is expected to announce new restrictions on social contact between households and a 10pm curfew on pubs in parts of north-east England on September 17. Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle also reports that people will be told to avoid public transport for non-essential journeys. This comes on the same day that Transport for the North (TfN) unveils a transit-boosting data link-up with Intel
Newcastle city council leader Nick Forbes has said that “additional, temporary restrictions” were being planned for NE England to prevent another full lockdown for the region. The new restrictions are expected to apply to the 1.5 million people who live in Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland.
Similar restrictions were introduced in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Leicester on July 31.
TfN is subnational organization tasked with improving transport across the north’s twenty local transit authorities, including those on Tyneside and Wearside and Greater Manchester.
The data deal with Moovit, an Israel-based Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform. will see the Intel-owned company accessing TfN’s new Open Data Hub, a platform providing open-source fares and information for developers, to enable riders of northern England’s public transit services with digital tools to more easily plan journeys.
The Open Data Hub is an initiative of TfN’s £150 million Integrated and Smart Travel program.
“Navigating public transport can be confusing for many people,” said Moovit’s marketing officer Yovav Meydad.
Headquarters of Israeli transportation app developer Moovit, in the central city of Ness Ziona. … [+]
“Not knowing which bus or rail service to take, which stop to wait at, or how much the journey will cost can be stressful and reduces rider confidence. Coupled with the easing of stay-at-home measures in the U.K., transport timetables and lines are constantly changing, leaving riders facing unforeseen service disruptions and further magnifying their uneasiness.”
Moovit offers a free iOS, Android, and web app that people can use to get real-time information on public transit journeys, including alerts to provide step-by-step guidance
“Together with TfN and its Open Data Hub, we can give passengers the best and most advanced tools to help them get to their destination with assurance,” added Meydad.
Intel acquired Moovit in May 2020.
