Keolis’ Australian subsidiary, Keolis Downer, has been awarded two on-demand passenger transport pilot projects by the New South Wales (NSW) Government.

Trials on the Australia's New South Wales coast will start in October 2017, and in Sydney in early 2018. These will deliver reliable and affordable first- and last-mile services that meet local needs and encourage the use of public transport.

The first pilot project will provide in the Northern Beaches area in connection with the B-Line rapid transport services. Passengers will be able to book a vehicle to pick them up from their home or nearest designated stop and take them to the closest transport hub.

The second pilot will service Sydney’s rapidly growing City of Ryde / Macquarie Park precinct within a nine-mile radius. The service is aimed at providing a more direct personalized journey for commuters and students looking to travel within the Macquarie Park precinct.

The pilots will help the NSW Government fulfil objectives stated in its Future Transport Technology Roadmap. These include unlocking the full value of the existing transport network, while personalizing transport services to create a better experience for customers.

The pilots integrate with existing transport services to improve mobility for all passengers, on both high-demand and low-demand routes providing faster, safer and more convenient trips. Passengers will be able to book and pay for their journey online, by phone or via a free mobile app, and will have access to real-time journey information.

For this project, Keolis Downer is partnering with AECOM, CSIRO/Data61, JYW Consulting and the University of NSW.