Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is working in partnership with Yorkshire-based Fleetondemand’s award-winning Mobility as a Service (MaaS) application Mobilleo to power its ground-breaking IMOVE project. The EU Funded IMOVE project, supported by TfGM, was established to create an integrated travel solution for the people of Manchester by improving the way that different modes of transport work together in the city.
The aims of the project are to reduce traffic congestion and encourage shared and active travel by allowing passengers to manage their journeys using a single application.
The technological provision for the IMOVE project was enhanced by support from members of the Urban Mobility Partnership (UMP), a multi-modal transport partnership, which includes founding members Enterprise Holdings representing the car and car share modes.
TfGM worked closely with Fleetondemand’s industry-leading Mobilleo platform to consolidate multiple modes of transport for the project into a single IMOVE branded app. The bespoke IMOVE app provides travellers with instant access to car hire, car clubs, trains, buses, Metrolink trams and TfGM’s Local Link Service allowing them to plan, book and pay for each journey conveniently using any iOS or Android device.
Ross Basnett, Strategic Account Director at Fleetondemand commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with TfGM to provide the technology behind the IMOVE project. By tailoring a bespoke version of our Mobilleo software for IMOVE and linking together all the different transport options available to travellers in Manchester, we’re proving how it’s possible to cut congestion and improve air quality in a way that can be rolled out right across Greater Manchester.”
Fleetondemand is also providing dedicated customer support to compliment the IMOVE app, digital marketing communications to engage with its end users and a data platform that offers instant access to detailed management reporting information. The insight captured by the IMOVE app during the pilot phase of the project will help TfGM learn about the benefits of MaaS and any potential barriers to its effective deployment on a regional scale.
Sam Li, Senior Innovation Officer at TfGM added: “The IMOVE pilot project is helping people who work in and around Manchester use the most effective mode of transport to get to their destinations, which includes commuting to and from work and business-related journeys. Its purpose is to encourage a positive change in travel habits, encouraging people to leave their own car at home and use shared or public transport, walk and cycle.”
Oz Choudhri, Head of MaaS at Enterprise Holdings, said: “Research shows that private cars spend up to 97% of their time parked, are usually older with higher CO2 emissions and add to congestion when used at peak times. We need bold action to change how people think about getting around, and the IMOVE project is designed to demonstrate there is a practical alternative to jumping in your own car.
“It brings together some of the largest transport operators in the country alongside a progressive attitude from local government to find a solution to one of the biggest problems facing urban areas. This is the first test of the UMP’s proposal in action and, if successful, could be rolled out in other cities across the UK.”
In Addition to the IMOVE project for Greater Manchester, there are four other European Living Labs located in Berlin, Madrid, Turin, and Gothenburg, currently investigating and validating IMOVE trials. The purpose of the overarching IMOVE project is to accelerate deployment and unlock the scalability of MaaS schemes in Europe, ultimately paving the way for a ’roaming’ service for MaaS users on a European level.
