New Government funding for Go-Hi mobility app

The Go-Hi transport mobility app has attracted new funding from the Scottish Government to provide a wider range of transport information and services to residents, tourists and business travellers in the Highlands and Islands.

The Go-Hi app, launched during the summer, provides instant access to information on buses, trains, taxis, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire, air travel and ferries. This allows users to plan their journeys and find, book and pay for all modes of transport in one place, using any iPhone or Android mobile device.

Behind the project is the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), the regional transport partnership, which has secured £408,772 from round two of Transport Scotland’s Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Investment Fund to expand Go-Hi, adding to the £445,170 received in round one.

The Scottish Government’s minister for transport, Graeme Dey MSP, said he was delighted to have been able to visit Elgin and see the Go-Hi App in action.

“It’s a great example of the Scottish Government working in partnership with local communities and private enterprise to develop the digital technology that allows the joining up of many transport modes, providing a one-stop transport shop for residents and visitors alike,” he added.

“I look forward to seeing how the second phase of the pilot develops to meet customer requirements and test the concept of MaaS in Scotland to support modal shift.”

Go-Hi is powered by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform. The additional funding from the MaaS Investment Fund extends the platform with several new transport partners including ProxiSmart who join current project partners the Institute of Transport Studies Leeds University, Enterprise Car Club and Car Hire, Bewegen, Brompton Bike Hire, Stagecoach Bus, West Coast Motors, Inverness Taxis, ScotRail, Loganair, Shotl, Skedgo, Orkney Ferries and Northlink Ferries.

Councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of HITRANS, said: “The project will ensure we remain in the vanguard of innovation and the digitalisation of transport information.

“Actions within the project will hugely improve accessibility of travel information and ease of payment for multiple modes of travel.”

The MaaS Investment Fund has been established to test the concept of MaaS in Scotland, and aims to deliver on the Scottish Government’s aspirations of lowering carbon emissions, improving health, and growing digital and innovation within Scotland by developing digital solutions to encourage and enable modal shift to public transport and active travel alternatives. 

Go-Hi is a regional, multi-modal journey planning system using real-time data that offers account-based payment available to all users for all participating mobility options.

The funding obtained was intended for an initial six-month live pilot project but through internal virement of budget and additional funding from the Stronger Combined North Sea Region Project it has been possible to launch the platform for a 24-month period at the end of which time it is hoped that the platform will become sustainable based on use.