Double win for Manchester digital twin at ITS UK Awards
22nd October 2025
We’re thrilled to announce that the 5G Innovation Region Digital Twin, developed in partnership between Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Aimsun, has won two major awards at the Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) Awards:
🏆 Digitalisation and Digital Services Award
🏆 Project of the Year Award
These accolades recognise the groundbreaking work behind the UK’s first operational traffic digital twin, a solution that’s redefining how transport networks are planned and operated.
A Partnership Driving Innovation
TfGM and Aimsun have built a long-standing partnership focused on transforming transport operations through digital innovation. With support from the 5G Innovation Region programme, the teams delivered a solution that combines real-time and historic data, AI, and simulation to improve network performance and bus reliability.
This is the only digital twin in the UK capable of automatically triggering on-street changes via UTMC systems, fully aligned with the Department for Transport’s definition.
A Scalable, Impactful Solution
The digital twin integrates multiple TfGM and open datasets into a single decision-support platform. Delivered region-by-region, it demonstrated rapid progress and early value to stakeholders.
More than a monitoring tool, the Aimsun digital twin is a connected ecosystem supporting:
- Traffic strategy testing
- Live incident detection
- Emissions analysis
- Public transport reliability assessment
It empowers planners, operators, emergency services, air quality teams, and researchers—all within one scalable platform.
Transparency and Future Mobility
The system supports ongoing monitoring and evaluation, ensuring transparency and accountability across the full lifecycle of transport interventions—from design to real-world impact.
TfGM’s use of the digital twin has enhanced understanding of its network, data assets, and operational strategies, while laying the foundation for integrating future mobility technologies through 5G and connected vehicle infrastructure.
Judges’ comments on the Digitalisation and Digital Services Award:
“Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), in strategic collaboration with Aimsun, has delivered a groundbreaking, AI-powered traffic digital twin that brings real-time intelligence to the Greater Manchester network. TfGM’s use of the digital twin has enhanced understanding of its network, data assets, and operational strategies, while laying the foundation for integrating future mobility tech through 5G and connected vehicle infrastructure. Congratulations!”
Judges’ comments on the Project of the Year Award:
“When the judges select the project of the year, they are looking for that one project that is a leading light for the industry, and demonstrates the future of transport technology. Aimsun and Transport for Greater Manchester’s Digital Twin programme fit this bill exactly – showing how digital twins can act as a game-changer for the management of our transport networks, supporting better safety, integration and efficiency! A massive congratulations!”
A Deeper Dive: Digital Traffic Twins for Better Buses
As part of Greater Manchester’s £3 million award through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s 5G Innovation Regions competition, Aimsun is developing two pilot digital twins for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Focused on Hindley and Chorlton-cum-Hardy, the pilots aim to support early detection of congestion and identify delayed buses. These insights will enable TfGM to take timely, data-driven actions to improve bus reliability and optimise traffic flow through Smart Transport Corridors.
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 UK. “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.”
Greater Manchester’s Smart Decarbonisation Drive
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has secured £3 million in central government funding through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s 5G Innovation Regions competition. This initiative is designed to foster 5G-enabled innovation across the city-region, with a focus on accelerating decarbonisation and enhancing quality of life.
The funding will support the Greater Manchester 5G SMART Decarbonisation Network project, which brings together partners from across the region to address the root causes of climate change. The project aims to drive decarbonisation, improve residents’ quality of life, and stimulate growth in the Green Technologies and Services sector.
A key component of the project is its transport theme, which will develop a Digital Roads network. This network is intended to reduce congestion and carbon emissions by optimising traffic flow—particularly for public transport—making journeys quicker and more efficient.
