Author: Harminder Sangha

Australian bus operator adopts our scheduling solution to expand its business

Posted on December 7, 2020 by - CrewPLAN, OmniBASE, OmniMAP, OmniROTA, OmniTIMES, Operators

Buses in Australia

7 Dec 2020 – Omnibus works around the clock to support Buslines in Australia to support company growth

Omnibus has been working with Australian bus operator Buslines to automate its processes and facilitate the company’s continued expansion. Buslines operates a fleet of 380 buses, servicing a network of bus routes in major regional towns throughout New South Wales (NSW). The Group’s operations carry over 10 million customers annually and employ more than 500 staff.

Buses in Australia

Buslines has adopted Omnibus scheduling software to replace its previous manual system for creating shifts and rosters. The aim was to digitalise the process to allow for continued growth of the business and build a scheduling capability within Buslines’ existing employees who have long term operational, planning and scheduling experience. To facilitate this, training for Buslines schedulers was conducted remotely by the Omnibus team in Australian local time.

David D’Apuzzo, Management Accountant for Buslines, comments: “We had heard through other operators about the excellent software and support offered by Omnibus, and after meeting Peter Crichton at a conference in Canberra, we invited them to provide a demonstration.” David was particularly impressed with how user-friendly the Omnibus software is: “It is obvious that it has been written by people with a scheduling background rather than software engineers trying to write a program. Also, it was refreshing to deal with software providers that showed a genuine interest in improving our business, so it was a simple choice in picking Omnibus.”

Both parties worked together to overcome the time difference, as David explains: “We initially arranged meetings at the beginning of the UK working day and the end of ours, but the training needed to be conducted during our normal business hours, which led to some very late nights for the dedicated Omnibus team!”

The company is already looking at adding OmniDAS, the market-leading driver and vehicle allocation system.

David concludes: “Peter and team have been great to work with. They’ve shown a genuine interest in helping us improve as a business. No task has been too difficult and whenever we’ve raised a question they’ve come up with a solution.”

Buslines operates across 13 locations in rural and regional NSW: Berrima, Picton, Ulladulla, Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Griffith, Tamworth, Forster, Wingham, Ballina and Northern Rivers.

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com 

BODS module launched ahead of December 2020 deadline

Posted on December 7, 2020 by - BODS, Operators

Data sharing

7 Dec 2020 – Omnibus has launched a new module to enable clients to provide Bus Open Data Service compliant data ahead of the 31st December deadline.

The new module makes it as easy as possible for clients to provide seamless, compliant timetable data by producing TransXChange 2.4 files in accordance with the BODS profile. The module has been launched now to give customers the benefit of a twelve week window to refresh their timetable data prior to 31st December.

Data sharing

Peter Crichton, Managing Director, Omnibus, explains: “Our team has worked hard over the last few months to ensure our customers have plenty of time to prepare for the BODS deadline at the end of the year. This enables them to get ahead of the game and establish their BODS data flow now, rather than in the busy weeks before Christmas.”

Peter continues: “As well as operators, BODS has implications for Local Authorities, which are now obliged to update and maintain the NaPTAN stops database. We have therefore also developed a solution for that and an option for Councils who are considering providing a bureau BODS service for operators of their tendered services.”

Meera Nayyar, Head of Passenger Experience, Buses and Taxis, Department for Transport, says: “From 31st December 2020, bus operators will be legally required to publish their timetable data. The Bus Open Data Service is publicly available now for those who wish to get on board and publish their timetable data early. It is very encouraging that many have already done so. For those of you yet to do so, we’d encourage you to talk with your scheduling software supplier about sharing your timetable data with BODS.”

Peter concludes: “We have made it as easy as possible for everyone to act now, before their scheduling staff initiate the service changes for the Christmas period. As always, the Omnibus support team is on hand to help guide anyone through the process.”

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com 

Supporting clients get ahead of the game with bus open data (BODS)

Posted on September 11, 2020 by - BODS, Operators, Transport Authorities

11 Sept 2020 – Omnibus is launching a new module to help clients to provide seamless, compliant timetable data for the Bus Open Data Service (BODS). From its launch in the Autumn, clients will be able to produce TransXChange 2.4 files in accordance with the BODS profile, giving customers the benefit of a three-month window to refresh their timetable data prior to the 31st December deadline.

Omnibus is also advising operators that they can submit data now, before the September launch of the new facility, as the current versions of TransXChange are acceptable for submission to BODS.

Meera Nayyar, Head of Passenger Experience, Buses and Taxis, Department for Transport, commented: “From 31st December 2020, bus operators will be legally required to publish their timetable data. The Bus Open Data Service is publicly available now for those who wish to get on board and publish their timetable data early. It is very encouraging that many have already done so. For those of you yet to do so, we’d encourage you to talk with your scheduling software supplier about sharing your timetable data with BODS.”

Peter Crichton, Managing Director, Omnibus, explains: “Operators can set up their BODS data flow now, with their current TransXChange files, and they will only need a simple data refresh once the BODS TransXChange option is available in the Autumn. Our advice is to get ahead of the game and establish your BODS data flow now and not in the weeks before Christmas. As always, the Omnibus support team is on hand to help guide anyone through the process.”

Alex Hornby, the CEO of Transdev Blazefield, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Omnibus in leading the way in helping us make data more open and accessible. Ensuring information is easily available to our customers, existing and new, is a vital part of growing bus use and we are excited to embrace the opportunities it provides.”

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com

Publishing software improves the time to turnaround bus stop timetable information

Posted on July 9, 2020 by - Omnistopdesign, Operators

People looking at timetable at bus stop
People looking at timetable at bus stop

9 July 2020 – OmniSTOPdesign, the software package for creating attractive and accurate passenger transport stop or station information displays, has been completely updated, making it even easier to use.

Now that the frequency of services is changing almost daily and other services are restarting, often with fewer staff to manage services, it is more important than ever for operators to communicate service changes quickly, easily and efficiently without taking up too many office hours.

Another update is the ability to power information screens with live departure data. This means that live video displays, such as at bus stations, can also receive continuously updated real time departure information to display alongside video adverts within the OmniSTOPdesign template.

The software from Omnibus gives operators and local authorities freedom to create bespoke displays themselves. OmniSTOPdesign makes creating bus stop displays easier, faster and much more flexible. Users have total control over styles, fonts, graphics, colours and paper size, giving them the opportunity to fully incorporate any relevant branding and graphics.

Displays can be set in advance, so that new data can be imported whenever it is needed. The design can be specified right down to individual bus stop level so every display can be tailored.

Omnibus customers using OmniSTOPdesign have been giving their feedback and their suggestions for software enhancements have contributed to the changes in the new release from Omnibus developers.

Peter Crichton, Managing Director, Omnibus, comments: “Informing passengers of changes to services in a clear and concise way is vitally important right now. The increased need for publicity, along with the ever-changing situation, means that having the ability to make those changes inhouse, quickly and easily, is a huge benefit.”

The team of Omnibus developers has worked hard to incorporate more than twenty individual changes to the software to enable operators to continue to update their publicity as things change over the coming weeks and months.

– ENDS –

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com 

Unlocking the power of your commercial and operations data

See how we can drive your business forward.

Book a demo

Making it easier to share data between systems

Posted on June 10, 2020 by - Operators, TXC

data sharing between systems

We were really pleased with the positive feedback from our last software update notification and wanted to make sure that you are also aware of the latest developments in our other applications.

In this update we concentrate on our data management applications, to make sure you can take advantage of features designed to improve efficiency and save time – which has never been more important with the current challenging situation.

Details of how to download these features have been sent to users.

data sharing between systems

OmniFLAG

NaPTAN Editor & Roadside Asset Management

  • Maintain StopPoint and StopArea records for your area.
  • Easy to use and validates changes as-you-edit.
  • Comprehensive asset management solution for recording and monitoring bus stops and associated equipment.
  • Install on Windows tablets & laptops to allow remote data collection and editing.

 

TransXChange & EBSR

The UK standard for exchanging public transport timetable and schedule data

TransXChange Exporter

  • Exchange operational data with systems such as journey planners (including those operated by Traveline), real-time (RTPI) systems and electronic ticket machine systems (ETMs).
  • Perform validation checks on the source data to help to pinpoint any data issues prior to producing a TransXChange file.

EBSR

  • An efficient answer to the provision of Electronic Bus Service Registrations.
  • Extract all registration journeys from OmniTIMES data and mapping details from OmniMAP to create TransXChange format registration documents.

TransXChange Viewer

  • View TransXChange timetables in a familiar OmniTIMES style interface.
  • Check days of operation, dates, stop points, operators and registrations.

TransXChange Importer

  • Import journeys from TransXChange files directly into OmniTIMES.
    Preserve as high a level of detail as the source data allows.
  • Control how multiple TransXChange journeys are to be split into separate timetables.

TransXChange Tools

  • Analyse TransXChange files with a wide range of reporting and operational checks

 

To take advantage of these new features, call us on 0161 683 3100 or email:support@omnibus.uk.com

Software solutions to drive your network forward

Maximising efficiency of your drivers and vehicles

Request demo

Supporting Plymouth Citybus navigate through Covid-19 challenges

Posted on June 4, 2020 by - CrewPLAN, Operators

Plymouth City Bus

4 June 2020 – Plymouth Citybus has found it easier to navigate the challenges presented by social distancing and managing driver duties during the pandemic, by utilising some innovative features developed by Omnibus.

To support operators the Omnibus development team, all working from home, has launched several new initiatives to help them adapt to a new way of working.

Plymouth City Bus

Plymouth Citybus has been running CrewPLAN to compile duties as each new challenge arises. Mark Collins, Head of Commercial for Plymouth Citybus, explains: “We’ve been able to instantly generate a workable set of duties in a matter of moments. This really has been absolutely invaluable to us in recent weeks; knowing that we have the software at hand to be able to tackle whatever challenge comes next.”

Mark continues: “To be able to run CrewPLAN on a schedule, and get a workable, efficient and reliable answer, all agreed with our Trade Union representatives in less than an hour, is absolutely fantastic.”

In order to manage social distancing at break times, Plymouth Citybus has also been using the new feature of Mealbreak Graphs, which shows how many duties are on break at any given time. This feature enables Plymouth Citybus Operations Managers to plan additional facilities at the busiest times of day.

Mark concludes: “ In these changing times, where we don’t know what will happen from one minute to the next, the Omnibus software has been invaluable in enabling us to plan and respond quickly as things change.”

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com 

Seamless.Effecient.Easy

Mark Collins at Plymouth City Bus

Mark Collins
Head of Commercial for Plymouth Citybus

We’ve been able to instantly generate a workable set of duties in a matter of moments. This really has been absolutely invaluable to us in recent weeks; knowing that we have the software at hand to be able to tackle whatever challenge comes next.”

More on CrewPLAN

Software improvements to support bus operators during Covid-19 restrictions

Posted on May 21, 2020 by - Operators

lady with covid mask in bus

Omnibus staff may be working remotely, but our dedication and customer service remains as strong as ever!

It’s great to be part of such a positive industry which has shown unwavering determination to carry on and overcome all of the obstacles this current situation has brought. We’re very proud to have been able to help where possible, by providing assistance, support and advice as we all adapt to a new way of working.

We’d like to say thank you for all the positive feedback we’ve received, demonstrating how our software has allowed you to react quickly and effectively to the challenges of coronavirus.

lady with covid mask in bus

We’re always working hard to deliver more – and this has never been more important. As we start the phased exit from lockdown, our aim is to give our customers the tools they need to make life easier.

To do this, we’ve developed an exciting range of new features designed to address the unique situation and believe these will be very helpful for you. Each deals with the challenges now faced, to simplify complex coronavirus requirements such as social distancing.

Details of how to download these features have been sent to users.

OmniBASE

Mealbreak Graph

Our new Mealbreak Graph shows how many duties are on break at any given time to assist you with the management of social distancing

Next generation CrewPLAN.NET

Our award-winning automatic crew scheduling software

Enhanced functionality

Increased constraint flexibility and an improved algorithm gives you greater control and can deliver even greater efficiencies

Varied Canteen times

New variations in opening and closing times for Canteen Points allow you to ensure that canteens are available for other staff at certain times of the day

OmniDAS

Remote sign-on now available for all myDAS Touch users

Drivers can ensure compliance with social distancing by scanning a QR code at a virtual sign-on point

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough)

In order to assist customers with making staff furloughed, additional codes have been set up. These ensure that once staff are required again, they can be made available very quickly.

 

To take advantage of these new features, call us on 0161 683 3100 or email:support@omnibus.uk.com

Take the hassle out of claiming

We ensure that your BSOG claim is accurate, compliant and maximised

REQUEST DEMO

COVID-19 update – a message from our Managing Director

Posted on April 1, 2020 by - General, Operators

A message from our Managing Director, Peter Crichton

We are proud to serve the critical passenger transport sector. We are keen to reassure everyone that we are here to help, as always.

Peter Crichton Managing Director at Omnibus
Peter Crichton Managing Director at Omnibus

Business Continuity

Despite the current uncertainty we are operating as normal albeit remotely. Our robust business continuity plans have been activated and we are maintaining all our services.

Taking Care of People

As we support the current government guidelines, the entire Omnibus team are working remotely, ensuring both the wellbeing of our staff at this difficult time as well as the continued smooth operation of the business. We’re very proud of how quickly our team has adapted to this new working situation and how everyone has pulled together to make it as seamless as possible.

Keeping Things Moving

Our development work continues as usual, ensuring that this important work goes on uninterrupted. We know that this is a difficult time for public transport operators and authorities but we also know how strong this industry is, which is why we continue to work on new systems and solutions that will lead the way.

We are here to help your team and your business through this. If you need assistance right now, schedules advice or consultancy please get in touch.

We are in this together.

Kind regards
Peter Crichton

Warrington’s Own Buses adopts Driver App improving communication with drivers

Posted on January 31, 2020 by - OmniENGAGE, Operators

31 Jan 2020 – Warrington’s Own Buses have installed myDAS from Omnibus to improve communication with its 160 drivers. myDAS is a driver App that links drivers directly with OmniDAS, the depot allocation system from Omnibus.

With large numbers of drivers to manage, it can sometimes become challenging for operators to manage all their requests for information in a timely manner. myDAS, the driver self-service module, which is an integral part of OmniDAS, allows drivers to access all their own details, including rota, overtime and holiday details, from their smart phone.

Gareth Mead, Head of Commercial for Warrington’s Own Buses, comments: “We wanted to improve our communication to drivers and give them access to important information to enable them to find their own answers to the most commonly asked questions. Through myDAS they can self-serve themselves more easily, which frees up the Duty Supervisors and Forward Allocators to deal with more challenging tasks.”

Warrington's Own Buses
Warrington's Own Buses

myDAS has already proven a huge hit with drivers. Within the first 2 weeks nearly 70% of drivers had already signed up to the App. Gareth says the take up has been largely due to ‘word of mouth from driver evangelists’.

He concludes: “It has been a huge success for everyone. Drivers love it because they don’t have to be in the depot or ring up to find out information and it gives greater visibility on the fair allocation of overtime; and our supervisors and managers now have more time to focus on new projects.”

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com

Communication. Connected. Realtime

Gareth Mead, Head of Commercial at Warrington’s Own Buses

Gareth Mead
Head of Commercial for Warrington’s Own Buses

Drivers love it [the Driver App]  because they don’t have to be in the depot or ring up to find out information and it gives greater visibility on the fair allocation of overtime; and our Supervisors and Managers now have more time to focus on new projects”

Taking our cloud-based next generation depot allocation system to the next level

Posted on September 27, 2019 by - OmniDAS, Operators, Transport Authorities

cloud data sharing
cloud data sharing

27 Sept 2019 – Coach & Bus UK will give visitors the opportunity to see the next generation cloud-based Allocation System from Omnibus. Alongside this will be the Company’s innovative new cloud-based timetable management system with integrated mapping.

This cloud-based system brings even closer integration, saving time by bringing geographic information right to the heart of the timetabling process.

Peter Crichton, Omnibus Managing Director, comments: “We have spent nearly 30 years in this industry, continuously innovating and leading the way. We put our customers at the heart of every innovation, ensuring that customers remain in complete control of all Omnibus cloud-based products, with all the benefits this technology brings. We are very excited to share these latest developments with visitors to our stand at Coach & Bus UK.”

Omnibus developers are also working on adding ‘internal intelligence’ to all the scheduling products, to provide users with the option to automate more of the process if they choose, and also to guide them to better and more robust solutions. These features are designed to benefit advanced users, while also being accessible and valuable to those with less experience of computer scheduling.

Open Data is another area that the Omnibus development team is focusing on. They are looking at what users can do with their data, how they can share it and report on it, and how different systems, internal or external, can be integrated with each other. Peter explains: “We always have very interesting and productive conversations with all bus operators and local authorities at the NEC event, and we expect Open Data to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds this year.”

Adding to the company’s impressive list of endorsements and accreditations, Omnibus is now a validated IT supplier as part of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Earned Recognition Scheme (promoting high standards and providing assurance of compliance with regulations). Omnibus is the first software supplier reporting on domestic drivers’ hours for bus operators to have been awarded this status.

– ENDS –

Press Contact:
Harmi Sangha
Marketing Manager – Omnibus and EPM Bus Solutions
07538 935 568
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com 

Powering the future of your bus operations

Grow patronage, boost revenue, and drive operational efficiency.

REQUEST DEMO