Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Cambridgeshire service?
• Do I need to register for the service?
• How much does the Cambridgeshire Voyager text service cost?
• What data sources do we use to provide you with travel information?
• What is an information sign?
• How often is the traffic information updated?
• Why is congestion information only available for selected roads?
• Why is live car park information only available for selected car parks?
• Can I view the information in tabular form rather than on the map?
• Can I access the site on my phone or PDA?

Q.   What is the Cambridgeshire Voyager service?

Cambridgeshire Voyager has been designed to provide travel information to both car and public transport users about possible delays along your journey. Providing real time or schedule information about departures for bus and train journeys. Cambridgeshire Voyager can email and text you when there are incidents, congestion, roadworks and other traffic information on your route.

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Q.   Do I need to register for the service?

No, however registering allows you to create personlised alerts that may effect your journey by SMS or email.

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Q.   How much does the Cambridgeshire Voyager text service cost?

Each text costs a maximum of 25p per text plus your standard network rate. Remember to disable your SMS alerts while on holiday, as overseas texts are considerably more expensive.

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Q.   What data sources do we use to provide you with travel information?

Data is obtained from a range of sources, including:

The Journey Time Monitoring System: established and maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council. Journey times are calculated by placing cameras at either end of a road link. The time it takes for a vehicle to travel between the two points is recorded and then compared with historical norms to calculate an overall journey time. This information is used in a variety of ways. Journey times can be displayed on our website, on roadside traffic information signs and on partners' websites.

Roadwork's database: maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council, this incorporates information supplied by Cambridgeshire Highways, contractors and utility companies regarding planned and emergency roadwork's.

Traffic Signals database, signal configuration and monitoring system: maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Map data: maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council's GIS team.

Car park counters: located at the entrances and exits of some Car Parks to give live occupancy information.

NaPTAN database: the local component of the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN) database, identifying the location of bus stops and rail station entrances across Cambridgeshire, is maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council. Regular data updates are submitted by the Council to the main national database. For more information about NaPTAN, please visit www.naptan.org.uk/overview.htm

Highways Agency National Traffic Control Centre: we share network status information with the Highways Agency, which is responsible for motorways and trunk roads in Cambridgeshire. Sensors mounted alongside and under these roads collect data, which is sent via the Travel Information Highways to Cambridgeshire's travel information database.

CCTV: local traffic monitoring CCTV provides live images at selected major junctions throughout Cambridgeshire.

Neighbouring authorities' travel information databases: we share transport network information with neighbouring authorities. 

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Q.  What is an information sign?

Information signs, also known as electronic variable message signs (VMS) are signs located at strategic points throughout the road network that display traffic information/messages to alert drivers to incidents on the network, their likely impacts and appropriate action to take. The messages are updated as appropriate and removed once the traffic disruption has ended. Signs will only be displayed on the website when a message is being displayed on street.

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Q.  How often is the traffic information updated?

Most updates will be published to the website every five minutes. Real-time bus information is updated every 30 seconds.

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Q.  Why is congestion information only available for selected roads?

Traffic monitoring equipment required to generate congestion data is only installed on specific sections of the road network.

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Q.  Why is live car park information only available for selected car parks?

Vehicle counting equipment is only installed in a limited number of car parks around the county.

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Q.   Can I view the information in tabular form rather than on the map?

Tabular views of all information are available by selecting the appropriate link from the landing page.

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Q.  Can I access the site on my phone or PDA?

Currently the website is accessible on certain mobile phones but has not been optimised/streamlined for this purpose.

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