The first trial of an on-demand transport service started on 26 March 2018 in Macquarie Park, located in a suburb of Sydney. This trial is part of the New South Wales Government’s On-Demand Public Transport Pilot Program and the Future Transport Technology Roadmap.
The service is called Keoride and is operated by Keolis Downer, Keolis’ Australian subsidiary, and powered by Via, the leading developer of shared ride technology. This new ride sharing service will provide a personalised, reliable and efficient service to local communities, and encourage the use of public transport for anyone in the Macquarie Park surrounding area. Passengers will be picked up from a designated point within the Macquarie Park precinct to a designated point close to their destination. Keoride operates exclusively to and from the central precinct in Macquarie Park.
The additional flexibility and convenience offered by this on demand transport service complements existing public transport options, helping to reduce personal car usage, pollution and congestion.
Keoride Uses the Latest Technology
Keoride uses Via’s revolutionary technology, which is already powering transport solutions across the United States, Europe, and New Zealand, totaling over 25
million shared rides to date.
The Keoride app will match passengers who are travelling in the same direction and calculate an optimised flexible route to pick them up and take them to their destination.
Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via said: "Via's powerful technology is redefining mobility across the globe, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to provide on-demand dynamic transportation solutions. We are delighted to be partnering with Keolis Downer and TfNSW to help Sydney lead the way in mobility innovation through the launch of this convenient, affordable, and ecofriendly service.”
David Franks, CEO of Keolis Downer declared: “We are excited to collaborate with TfNSW to transform the public transport network by implementing on demand transport services that focus on the passenger. By testing innovative first and last connectivity mile solutions, we provide more choices to passengers and a viable alternative to the car. This trial will provide valuable insights for the future development of timetable-less services in NSW.”
Keolis Downer, a joint-venture between Keolis and Downer, a leading provider of engineering, transport and infrastructure services in Australia and New Zealand, runs other on-demand transport services in Australia. Keolis Downer is the first private operator in Australia to operate a multimodal network in Newcastle. The group also operates the tram networks in Melbourne, the largest tram network in the world, and the Gold Coast, as well as bus networks in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Globally, Keolis is the leading operator of on-demand transport for passengers with reduced mobility in France, and also operates on-demand passengers transport services in the Netherlands and the US.
