Travelling around North East Lincolnshire by public transport is set to get a lot easier, thanks to a series of new and improved information services.

The council is expanding its Traveline-txt 84268 text messaging service that sends travel information straight to passengers mobile phones.

Simple to use, Traveline-txt allows travellers to receive up-to-date bus timetable information in the form of easy to read text messages, 24 hours a day.

Already piloted and proving popular on the number 5 bus route, this service will be expanded to include the 16 and 45 bus route, plus the bus station and Osbourne Street/ Bethlehem Street area by the end of January 2009. And eventually, the service will be available at all bus stops within North East Lincolnshire.

The new year will also see the introduction of 3D maps at Grimsby and Cleethorpes train stations and Grimsby bus station. The new maps will make it clearer for passengers to understand where they are and how they can make connecting bus or rail journeys, or just find out more information about the area they are in.

Also at the end of January, the council in partnership with Stagecoach, will be publishing the pocket-sized bus timetable and map guide.

The guide will include all local bus services and community transport information and will be available from Stagecoach, in council customer access points, libraries and in Freshney Place.

To compliment all the new services the Traveline information service continues to operate with accurate bus and rail information just a phone call away on 0871 2002233.

The travelling public needs to be confident that the information they receive is accurate and reliable.

By offering a comprehensive range of information services, more people will be encouraged to use public transport as there preferred method of travelling around the borough. This has to be good news for the environment.