The Transport Department (TD) reached an agreement with the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) today (May 31) to open up real-time arrival data on four of its rail lines.
The MTRCL will release real-time arrival data on four rail lines, namely Airport Express, Tung Chung Line, Tseung Kwan O Line and West Rail Line, in machine-readable format via the Public Sector Information (PSI) Portal "data.gov.hk" managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer for free use by the public and the industry. The TD will pro-actively co-ordinate with relevant Government departments to assist the MTRCL in opening up its real-time arrival data. The data are expected to be available at "data.gov.hk" in the third quarter of this year.
Following New World First Bus Services Limited, Citybus Limited and New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited, the MTRCL is another public transport operator agreeing to open up its real-time data via "data.gov.hk". Opening up data is an important Government policy initiative to promote innovation and technology. The MTRCL's supportive move to echo the Government's open data policy is recognised. The TD will continue to discuss with other bus operators and appeal for their support to open up their real-time data as soon as possible to keep up with the prevailing trend of open data with a view to promoting smart city development and fostering "Smart Mobility".
Meanwhile, and as Chief Executive stated in her policy address in 2018, the Government will fund the development and establishment of a real-time arrival data collection system for green minibuses (GMBs), and the installation of on-board positioning devices on some 3 300 GMBs in Hong Kong. Passengers will be able to access the real-time arrival information of GMBs through the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility". The relevant data will also be released in machine-readable format via "data.gov.hk" to the public free of charge. The TD engaged a technical specialist for conducting a data collection system trial scheme. The scheme involves the installation of different data collection devices on 140 GMBs on 35 GMB routes for testing and selecting suitable technology for the system. The installation commenced since last week and the trial scheme is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subject to the test results, the TD will start installing the device on all GMBs next year. The TD will launch the real-time arrival information of GMBs in phases from the end of next year with a view to achieving full implementation on a total of 544 GMB routes in the following two years.
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