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Transdev

On-Demand Ferry Kiosks – A Trial in Smarter Mobility

Transdev is one of the world’s leading mobility providers, operating in 20 + countries with more than 85,000 employees. 

In Sydney’s Bays Precinct, the company launched a six-month trial of an On Demand Ferry service—connecting Barangaroo, Pyrmont and Glebe via Fish Markets and Blackwattle Bay.   

To support the trial, Transdev engaged NEO to design and build a network of self-service kiosks enabling passengers to book trips, view live schedules and make real-time payments. 

Project Highlights

Client  Transdev
Platform Transactional, Display & Wayfinding
Sector Transport, Smart Cities, Public Infrastructure
Functions Ticketing, real time scheduling, passenger information 
Partner Tranzer
Deployment Sydney On Demand Ferry Trial

The Challenge

The goal was to test how flexible, self-service infrastructure could support first- and last-mile ferry connections in a busy inner-city precinct. 

Key requirements included: 

  • Real-time scheduling and booking for a ferry network running outside standard fixed-route operations   
  • Integration with the Tranzer app and kiosk-based booking terminals 
  • Operating in outdoor wharf environments with minimal fixed infrastructure (solar powered) 
  • Rapid design-to-deployment timeline – kiosks needed to be approved and manufactured in months not years   

The Solution

NEO designed and manufactured a compact, weather-rated self-service terminal tailored to the Bays Precinct trial. 

Each kiosk offers: 

  • Booking and payment for individual trips via the kiosks or Tranzer app 
  • 4G-connected live schedule display and estimated pick-up time analytics   
  • Solar-powered stand-alone design enabling deployment without permanent wiring or infrastructure 
  • Dual use for pre-booked trips and “turn up and go” service options 

The kiosks were produced in under four months from concept to manufacture—demonstrating NEO’s rapid-deployment capability.   

The Outcome

Though a pilot, the On Demand Ferry kiosks helped demonstrate the viability of flexible water-borne mobility in the Bays Precinct. 

Outcomes include: 

  • A seamless booking experience that made travel between Barangaroo, Pyrmont and Glebe faster and more convenient 
  • Proof-of-concept for self-service kiosks in waterfront transit settings—supporting the case for expanded smart-mobility infrastructure 
  • Valuable data and insights captured during the trial that fed into Transdev’s broader on-demand mobility strategy.   

 

The pilot is no longer active—but the learning from it has informed wider mobility innovation for Transdev in Sydney and internationally.   

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