Aimsun to Develop Traffic Digital Twin for Greater Manchester
Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Aimsun is thrilled to announce the development of two pilot digital twins for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The pilots focus on two key areas in the districts of Hindley and Chorlton-cum-Hardy, aiming to enhance early identification of congestion build up and buses that are running behind schedule. This will enable TfGM to take proactive measures to improve bus reliability and traffic flow.
Central to this initiative was 5G advanced wireless technology, delivered by industry and telecoms partners, utilising industry expertise, GM’s Local Full Fibre Network, academia, and the cyber security sector.
The Aimsun digital twins use predictive data analytics to assess traffic conditions in real time and forecast the congestion pinch points that cause buses to run behind schedule. The digital twins will then assess potential response strategies to determine the most effective traffic management actions, helping buses navigate pinch points smoothly and preventing delays before they occur.
This innovative approach will involve analysing historical traffic data, developing traffic signal interventions, and integrating these interventions into the Aimsun digital twin.
“A traffic digital twin offers an effective alternative to physical traffic management measures and can be operational at scale much faster. By helping manage traffic including buses at congestion pinch points, delays will be reduced, improving network efficiency and bus performance, enhancing the overall customer experience. We will closely monitor and evaluate the impact of this pilot in conjunction with the other improvements we are making across the Smart Transport Corridors,” said Peter Boulton, Network Director Highways at TfGM.
Transport for Greater Manchester
Aimsun has already made significant strides in supporting TfGM’s vision for a more integrated and efficient transport system. Aimsun is also building a comprehensive transport model covering the 100-square-mile area within the M60 ring road. This large-scale, multi-tier model serves as a strategic planning and operational management tool, enabling TfGM to assess various schemes in support of the Bee Network – Greater Manchester’s vision for a more integrated, accessible, and affordable public transport and active travel system.
Managing Director, UK
“We are thrilled to collaborate with TfGM on this groundbreaking project,” said James Daniels, Managing Director of Aimsun Ltd. “Our goal is to enhance the efficiency and reliability of public transport in Greater Manchester, ultimately improving travel across Greater Manchester for thousands of residents.”
£3M 5G Innovation Boost to Power Greater Manchester’s Smart Decarbonisation Drive
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) secured £3 million through central Government funding. The funding comes from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s 5G Innovation Regions competition, aimed at boosting 5G enabled innovation in the city-region. This funding supports innovative projects across Greater Manchester, aiming to accelerate decarbonisation and improving quality of life.
Funding will be invested in the Greater Manchester 5G SMART Decarbonisation Network project. The project will focus on how partners across the city-region can tackle the drivers of climate breakdown at a city-region level by accelerating decarbonisation, improving quality of life, and growing the Green Technologies and Services sector. The transport theme of the project will focus on a Digital Roads network, aiming to reduce congestion and carbon emissions and prioritise traffic flow such as public transport in a quicker, more efficient way, reducing congestion and delay.
To support the pilot of ‘Smart Transport Corridors’ Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are working with Aimsun to deliver a traffic digital twin to improve efficiency and reliability.
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