For the first time this year, at Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, ITS UK held our first ‘Transport Tech Showcase’, displaying the innovation and dynamism of the sector to policymakers.

The Transport Tech Showcases demonstrated five innovative companies, Kapsch, Yunex Traffic, Intelligent Instruments, Trainline and Smart Applications Management at the two main political parties’ annual conference, bringing the sector before Labour MPs, councillors and decision makers and highlighting the capabilities of the sector in delivering a safe, seamless and sustainable transport network.

During the Labour event on 29 September, attendees heard from Ruth Cadbury MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, who highlighted her priorities for the Committee in this coming year. At the Conservative event, on 6 October, Mayor Paul Bristow of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough highlighted his region’s priorities for integrated, joined up transport.

Both spoke alongside ITS UK’s Chief Executive Max Sugarman alongside representatives of Yunex Traffic, and Kapsch.

Showcasing the sector to policymakers

At the Reception, attendees were able to see:

• Yunex’s YuTraffic Actis signal head, a new modular traffic signal that is lighter and reduces energy consumption.
• Details about Kapsch’s global activity supporting road pricing schemes, and information on how a national road pricing scheme here in the UK can deliver a more efficient, greener network.
• The latest in electronic ticketing machines and tap-on, tap-off technology from Smart Applications Management.
• Trainline’s AI-powered Trainline Assistant, SafeSpot and the digital Pay-As-You-Go ticketing technology that is currently being trialled in the East Midlands.
• And Intelligent Instruments’ noise camera and street scene, highlighting how noise cameras can deliver quieter roads for the public.

Reaction

Commenting on the evening, Max Sugarman, Chief Executive of ITS UK said: “Both political parties have key goals around growth, sustainability and safety, and these are all areas which the transport technology sector can support. As the Showcases demonstrated, whether its smart ticketing, noise cameras, road pricing, digital journey planning or smart traffic management, the sector has all the ‘tools in the toolbox’ to support a vibrant, safe, seamless and green transport network.”

Wilke Reints, Managing Director of Yunex Traffic, UK said: “It was a pleasure to speak to politicians about the benefits of a fully functioning and optimised traffic management infrastructure. Whilst British engineering already delivers world-class solutions, the UK must enable and empower our local authorities to realise their potential. Smart and sustained investment in UK developed traffic management technology will drive long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits.”

Tim Wray, Sales Director, UK & Ireland, Kapsch remarked: “I was genuinely taken aback by the positivity I received around the topic of Road User Pricing. This is an issue that perfectly aligns with the Government’s growth agenda, and the technology is ready to go to deliver a more equitable system to replace falling fuel duty revenues – with clear solutions to common objections around privacy, complexity, and fairness.”