Reading has experienced singular growth in recent years courtesy of unprecedented business and retail expansion, providing Area Traffic Control Manager Simon Beasley with something of a challenge.

“We’re a compact urban area and some sections of our road network have become oversaturated.  To ease congestion we want to give people travel information that allows them to make informed choices about their mode of transport and the route and timing of their journey.”

Siemens Traffic Controls’ innovative traffic management and information system forms the hub of Reading’s control centre.

Its principal features include a common database and co-ordination facilities that allow operators to control and monitor the network across a range of systems and deliver accurate information to the travelling public.

At the same time the company’s intelligent traffic management system adjusts the town’s traffic lights to ease hot spots.

“Siemens technology allows us to give people live traffic and car park information with estimated journey times via the internet, text messaging and roadside variable message travel information boards,” explains Simon Beasley.

“Although still in its infancy, the system is already proving to be very user-friendly."

Our working relationship with Siemens is excellent; we’re dealing with the same people all the time who are always contactable.

“They’re very enthusiastic and welcome our input and vision of how we see the technology going forward.  That’s important when you’re working together on a cuttingedge system that could be the future model of traffic management in this country.”