Passenger Rail, Research & Development, Signalling & Communications, Technology and IT

AT Mobile App gets 100,000 downloads in under 4 months

Photo: Auckland Transport

The new mobile app from Auckland Transport (AT) allowing users to plan, save, and track their train, bus and ferry services has been downloaded 100,000 times, the transport provider has said.

The AT Mobile App was launched in May this year in an effort make travel in the city “easier” and “more intuitive” for passengers.

It features an alert system that tells users how far away buses or train are from stops, enabling them to better judge when to leave home. The alerts can also be received on wearable devices.

A GPS location service tracks the user’s journey, which, according to Auckland Transport, makes finding unfamiliar bus stops and train stations easier to find, as notifications telling the user they have arrived at the location will be sent to their device.

Users also receive route specific notifications, such bus stop closures or major line disruptions, along with other news and updates from Auckland Transport.

Kevin Leith, AT Metro customer and market group manager, said that extensive feedback work had been carried out with customers to ensure the app provided a better travel experience.

“Because there are so many types of journeys Aucklanders make, it was essential that we got customer feedback. Since it launched in April, customers have provided insightful feedback that has let us not only make the necessary improvements but also given us ideas about extra functions that will make travel easier,” Leith said.

The ability to track services with the app is apparently one of the best-liked features of the app.

“They’ve told us it’s a simple thing that’s made a big difference,” Leith said. “There’s no more need to keep turning your head looking for your bus or train, taking the guess-work out of when to leave your house. You get an alert saying the bus is approaching your stop so you know exactly what’s happening.”

The AT Mobile app can be downloaded for both Apple and Android systems from Auckland Transport’s website.