Home News Latest technology to make journeys easier for millions of London bus passengers
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London celebrates the Year of the Bus by using the latest digital technology aimed at helping Londoners and visitors to the city get around the capital’s extensive bus network more easily.
These latest customer information improvements – which are being made on board buses, at bus stops, bus stations and on-street – have been developed and will be deployed to help mark the Year of the Bus, as part of a series of events and activities to mark the vital contribution London’s bus network makes to the life and economy of the city and the UK as a whole.
New, larger digital screens expanding the ‘Countdown’ real-time bus arrival information already available are being installed at three busy bus stations to start with and, if successful, could be installed at every one of London’s 50 bus stations.
Other improvements include the installation of state-of-the-art interactive digital screens which provide live bus arrival information alongside real-time updates on other public transport options. The screens also include local area information including maps, local news and details about local events.
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Digital clocks were also introduced on board every bus in the 8,700-strong fleet, displayed on the ‘iBus’ screen on both the upper and lower deck. iBus is fitted on all buses in the fleet and includes ‘next stop’ audio visual announcements which lets passengers know where they are even if they’re on an unfamiliar route or a visitor to the city.
Location announcements are also being trialled on two night bus routes to help passengers identify where they are and will be extended to all night bus services by the end of the summer 2014.
Simon Reed, TfL’s Head of Technical Services Group, said: “Buses are a vital daily service for millions, with London’s network one of the largest and most accessible in the world. As we celebrate the Year of the Bus, we are using the latest digital technology to make travelling by bus as simple as possible for everyone. Our customers rightly regard real-time travel information as part of the core service we provide, and by providing free, open data we are enabling live bus arrival information to be displayed on any community group or commercial partners’ screens as well as our own.”
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