THE KINGS FERRY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY FIRST WITH UNIQUE COACHTRACK SYSTEM
Award-winning coach operator The Kings Ferry is pioneering a unique satellite
tracking system that’s set to revolutionise the UK coach industry.
Coachtrack has been undergoing trials for commuter coaches on The Kings Ferry fleet and is expected to be fully operational by
the end of 2005. It has been specifically designed for the Kent-based operator after managers sought a real-time service that would allow both themselves and their commuters to tap into and check the progress of coaches.
The Kings Ferry will be able to pinpoint precisely where all their vehicles are located and customers will soon be able to track
any vehicle by logging on to a website or using their WAP mobile phones. |
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The Kings Ferry has invested £350,000 in developing the system – but insists its customers won’t be footing the bill. Engineering manager Danny Elford said: "We won’t be passing any extra costs on to our passengers. We pride ourselves on quality and value and this is all part of the service. We expect the system to pay for itself within five years. It will cut costs and calls for passengers and ourselves and benefit our logistics and administration."
Sixteen of The Kings Ferry’s coaches have already been fitted with satellite tracking and the company expects this first phase of the system to be rolled out across the remainder of its 80-strong fleet within three months.
Mr Elford added: "The next step will be to install in-cab satellite navigation systems for our drivers, designed specifically for easy, safe operation on coaches. This should be possible within six months – and customers should be able to log on to the tracking website with their WAP phones by the end of this year."
’The Kings Ferry began looking for a complete tracking and satellite navigation solution for its fleet more than two years ago. After carrying out trials with a number of companies, it teamed up with transport communications technology specialist Masternaut - and the Coachtrack system began to take shape.
Mr Elford said: "Masternaut has come up with an excellent product that has been allowed to grow and adapt to our requirements. The system is continuously being updated and The Kings Ferry will be the forerunner of any new developments."
The Kings Ferry’s managing director, Steve O’Neill, explains how it works: "By logging on to the Masternaut website from our head office we can pinpoint the exact location of each of our vehicles, in the UK and abroad. The data is colour coded so we can tell at a glance which coaches are on the move, those that are 'idling', and those that have their engines switched off. What’s more, the screen refreshes every 30 seconds, allowing us to give customers real-time, up-to-date information."
Mr O’Neill added: "The system will have fantastic benefits for customers. For example, commuters travelling home will be able to relax in a café or bar while getting a running report on the location of their coach. That’s a real plus!
"It’s also good news for the many clients who hire our coaches. If they are using a number of our vehicles to transport people to a venue for an event, for example, they can monitor them to make sure they arrive safely and on time. Coachtrack is also completely web-based, with no CDs to install and no software needed other than your usual browser. This saves costs on CDs and distribution, and there are no software updates or patches to install."
Coachtrack will also benefit The Kings Ferry’s staff. Drivers will be able to download their schedule for the day simply by logging on in their cabs. The satellite navigation system will help them avoid traffic jams or taking a wrong turn, saving time and fuel – and the head office will be able to log the number of hours they have been driving, ensuring they remain within Working Time Directive guidelines.
Mr O’Neill said: "The Kings Ferry has invested a lot of time and money in this technological breakthrough and we’re proud to be the first coach company in the UK to install it."
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London