Fleetondemand will provide its Mobillio mobility platform as part of a Scottish Highlands trial to link all modes of transport through one smartphone app.

The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) will use the Mobilleo platform to help support its GO-HI rural MaaS project from March 2021.

The app will form part of a customised supply chain that provides residents and visitors in the Highlands and Islands with access to buses, trains, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire, air travel and ferries.

This will allow users to plan their journeys and find, book and pay for all modes of transport using any iPhone or Android mobile device.

Project partners include Enterprise Car Club and Car Hire, Bewegen, Stagecoach Bus, West Coast Motors, Inverness Taxis, ScotRail, Loganair and SkedGo.

The participating transport providers will be able to access data about the demand for their services, helping them to better understand the needs of people in the region and to make decisions about the provision of services.

It is being funded by the EU North Sea Region Stronger Combined project, and the Scottish government’s MaaS Investment Fund.

The £2 million MaaS Investment Fund has been established by Transport Scotland to improve accessibility to public transport services for residents and tourists in the country’s most rural and sparsely populated region.

The HITRANS region is home to 10% of Scotland’s population and accounts for approximately 50% of Scotland's land mass.

This includes long, remote coastlines, mountainous areas and many inhabited islands that currently create barriers to the movement and transportation of people and goods.

Ross Basnett, Fleetondemand strategic account director, said: "We’re looking forward to working with HITRANS to tailor a solution that addresses the mobility challenges faced by residents and tourists in some of Scotland’s most rural areas.

“The GO-HI app will bring together the various transport services in the area, allowing easier access to travel information, more reliable journey planning, in-app ticketing and a hassle-free payment system.

"These improvements should give people the confidence to use public transport and reduce the feeling of isolation among those without access to a car.”

Ranald Robertson, director at HITRANS, said the project has the potential to make a significant contribution to improve accessibility for residents and visitors.

He said it would also addresses Government ambitions to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging a modal shift from sole occupancy cars to shared cars and public transport alternatives.

HITRANS has appointed Marelise Hamar to lead the MaaS project.

Hamar joined HITRANS in May this year after making the move to the Highlands from the South East of England.

She brings experience from the aerospace, automotive and security printing industries where she has held numerous project-based roles.