THE VISION of a single telephone number for public transport information came a step closer on Monday (July 31) when a new call centre was switched on in Preston.

Originally pioneered in Lancashire, the new number 0870 608 2608 was part of a government initiative aimed at making travelling easier and has now been adopted as the pathway to finding out both local and international transport information.

The new system works by identifying where a person is calling from and automatically routing them to the nearest public transport call centre, which are being set up all over the country.

And the opening of the new call service in Preston marks a significant achievement in co-operation between local authorities and bus operators.

A joint company has been set up between Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Borough Councils and operators of commercial bus services in the area to operate the new centre.

Stuart Wrigley, chairman of Public Transport Information Ltd, the new company set up to operate the call centre, said: "It has been a major task to draw together all the necessary information to make the system work and as the service develops, it will make it much easier to find out about public transport journeys."