Hauliers moving vital supplies across the UK can view daily service station updates on the Traffic England website to ensure smoother journeys, thanks to an update from Thales and WSP’s joint venture, Network Information Services (NIS). 

On behalf of Highways England, the information updates show the current availability of service stations across England to keep people informed when making essential journeys as the nation enters the next stage of lockdown.

Thales and WSP have worked with Highways England to create an online hub, which shares a daily overview of the service station network in England. The hub, which can be found here, gives a colour-coded, at-a-glance status update of 118 motorway services with the latest advice, such as the provision of fuel, drinks, takeaway food, toilets and parking. It is compiled by Highways England and uploaded to the Traffic England site daily by NIS. 

Mark Garrity, Strategy Director at Thales commented: “We’re pleased to be able to put our technology to use to support people relying on the UK road network to keep the country moving. In a constantly changing environment, it’s vital that people making essential journeys are kept up to date. We’re proud to be able to support the UK’s supply chain during this crucial time and are grateful to our partners and colleagues for their support in making this possible.”

Ian Patey, Head of Profession, ITS, at WSP, and Director of NIS Ltd added: “This project is a great example of the NIS and Highways England teams working together to help the freight industry move vital supplies around the country and meet the growing demands brought about by COVID-19.  Acting so quickly to make these changes at a time when they are dealing with lockdown restrictions and their own concerns about the health and wellbeing of their families, friends and themselves is a tremendous tribute to everyone involved from NIS and Highways England.”