£5m scheme to boost public transport ahead of Olympics

Visitors to the 2012 Olympic sailing venue at Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour should be able to access real-time information on public transport to the site thanks to a recently unveiled £5 million project.

The scheme, a partnership between Dorset County Council and Advanced Communications and Information Systems (ACIS), comprises the first element of a centrally-funded package to upgrade transport links ahead of the London Games.

Under the deal, ACIS fit the fleets of three bus operators with automatic vehicle location systems and set up street information displays to provide minute-by-minute travel information at locations around Weymouth.

In addition, the project will provide real-time details of public transport services via the web, SMS text messaging, onboard bus displays and at the town's bus and rail interchange.

Andy Ackerman, the local authority's head of highways, said: "As part of Dorset County Council's Weymouth Transport Package for the 2012 Games scheme, it will make journey times more reliable and provide a lasting legacy for Dorset."

The Olympic sailing venue will ultimately comprise the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and an adjacent commercial marina.