ESA helps to create green personalised bus services

Tandem uses satellite data and information on people’s journeys to create personalised shuttle services, facilitating more efficient trips to jobs, education, healthcare services, and family and friends. 

Backed by ESA and the UK Space Agency, the service is being trialled by Transport for the West Midlands and the University of Warwick.

Passengers enter their destination and pick-up time into the app. Tandem then matches them to shared journeys and dispatches an appropriate vehicle.

When there is a consistently high number of passengers travelling, a larger bus is sent. When people do not require the service, no vehicle is dispatched. This means there are never empty vehicles circulating, unlike many rural bus services.

This avoids unnecessary planet-warming emissions and saves money for both passengers and local authorities.

The app uses space-based positioning services and tracking data so that people can follow where their lift is and the progress of their journeys.

Passengers pay online for the service, with prices matched to existing local bus services.

Emily Gravestock, Head of Applications Strategy at the UK Space Agency, said: “We see this as a new way of getting the bus. This app is ideal for supporting people in rural areas who are unable to do things like go to work or college, or see friends, because of limited bus timetables.

“By harnessing the power of space this app is providing a better transport service for its users and helping the environment by making journeys more efficient and cutting carbon dioxide.”

As well as the Transport for the West Midlands pilot, Tandem is helping many other companies – including the Royal Mail, fashion retailer Primark and bookseller Waterstones – to ferry their employees to work.

Alex Shapland-Howes, Chief Executive of Tandem, said: “Across the country, employers are struggling to attract workers. Transport is a genuine barrier to filling roles in out-of-town industrial estates, business parks or even in town centres if the workers live elsewhere. We’re already seeing huge demand from employers looking for help to get workers to fill their roles.”

The pilot project was completed with the support of ESA Space Solutions, which helps European businesses devise space-based ideas in every area of the economy.

Nick Appleyard, Head of ESA Space Solutions, said: “The most sustainable and cost-effective bus journey is when the bus stays in the garage. The next best is when the bus is full and takes the passengers directly to their destination. Tandem can get us closer to that ideal, with a service that reacts each day to the number of passengers wanting to travel, and to where they want to go. We are grateful to Transport for the West Midlands for trialling this on their network, and we look forward to the results of the pilot.”