Transport accessibility app to be piloted in Scottish Highlands and Islands

The Scottish Highlands and Islands are to trial a new app which aims to make it easier for residents and tourists to access the information they need to make greater use of public transport, car sharing and cycling. 

HITRANS, the regional transport partnership, has commissioned a technology firm to produce the bespoke app, which will provide instant access to information on all transport modes, allowing users to plan their journeys and find, book and pay for their preferred route using any iPhone or Android mobile device.

The app, GO-HI, is powered by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform, which has been built with the capacity to deploy partner MaaS schemes using its white label capabilities.  

The pilot project is due to go live in March 2021 and is being funded by the EU North Sea Region Stronger Combined project and the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund. The MaaS Investment Fund has been established by Transport Scotland to improve accessibility to public transport services for residents and tourists in the country’s most rural and sparsely populated region. 

Ranald Robertson, Director at HITRANS, said: “This pioneering project is an ambitious region-wide solution that has the potential to make a significant contribution to improve accessibility for residents and visitors. It also addresses Government ambitions to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging a modal shift from sole occupancy cars to shared cars and public transport alternatives. It will also help to create healthier lifestyles by improving the sustainable travel choices people can make in the region including active travel opportunities.”

Marelise Hamar, lead of the MaaS Project, said: “I am very excited to be part of this project using ground-breaking technology which will bring a real benefit to residents and visitors across the Highlands and Islands.”

The HITRANS project engages the underlying Mobilleo platform with several new transport partners, as well as those existing on the platform today. Project partners include Enterprise Car Club and Car Hire, Bewegen, Stagecoach Bus, West Coast Motors, Inverness Taxis, ScotRail, Loganair and SkedGo.

Oz Choudhri, Head of MaaS at Enterprise Holdings, added: “This project will support the delivery of Transport Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, which recognises the importance of embracing new technologies that are beneficial to society. The project will help Scotland to become an international leader in Smart Mobility by supporting digital innovation within Scotland and offering good practice in the application of MaaS for other similar regions.”