bus realtime information / next bus / live departures

[34D]

I've recently come across http://www.nextbuses.mobi which seems to give realtime (where available) or scheduled bus information for many parts of the country. Examples:
Nexus-land http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/twramgmp?currentPage=0

West Yorks http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/45025353?currentPage=0

Greater Manc http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/mangptmd?currentPage=0

Bristol http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/bstgwpm?currentPage=0

And Bristol with another number format (the same stop) http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults?id=0100BRP90311&submit=Search

Cambridge http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/cmbdtadw?currentPage=0

Dundee http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/36323529?currentPage=0

I can't seem to get any London stops to work though - am I missing something obvious?

This one just outside (Potters Bar) works though, even displaying TfL routes http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/hrtgpwjd?currentPage=0

Thanks

 

[bb21]

TfL realtime information is here.

 

[90019]

Lothian's bus tracker is here.

 

[34D]

TfL realtime information is here.

You're missing the point. I can't seem to get the five digit numbers that work in the TfL site to work on the nextbuses site.

I'm well aware that there are a multitude of different URLs for different parts of the country.

 

[bb21]

The example you gave in Potters Bar works with scheduled times only. I can get for example, stops on Oxford Street to work in that manner.

http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/490010689kb?currentPage=0

So, no, I don't get your point at all.

The five-digit system deployed by TfL is not necessarily compatible with this system so it probably has not been included.

 

[34D]

Ah, I think you've done it bb21. The URL for that Oxford Street stop is http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults?id=490010689kb&submit=Search and searching for stop 490010689kb does indeed bring the same results up

Continuing, http://www.nextbuses.mobi/WebView/BusStopSearch/BusStopSearchResults/490011048g?currentPage=0 brings up stop G in new barnet (and changing that url to an F brings up stop F across the road from it).

The TfL URL for stop G is http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk/#|searchTerm=plantagenet%20road|stopCode=74817 and you'll note that the five digit stop ID bears no relation to the number used in the 'next buses' example.

However, do these numbers relate at all to the actual stop numbers?

Lothian's bus tracker is here.

Wow, I can't get this to work at all on my mobile device. It first tried to load a mobile site up which didn't seem to have anything on, then the desktop site wanted me to click on a map pointer.

Is it possible that you could give the direct link to a specific Lothian RTI page (for a specific stop, who's number you know) and then we see whether the same stop number is picked up in the Traveline app?

 

[Tomonthetrain]

If you have android then an application called Bus Scout can help. Its free, but ad supported and has real time, scheduled and otherwise bus departures.

 

[Deerfold]

You're missing the point. I can't seem to get the five digit numbers that work in the TfL site to work on the nextbuses site.

I'm well aware that there are a multitude of different URLs for different parts of the country.

No TfL does not use the national bus stop number system in its own system (though all the stops have one, mapped on a 1-to-1 basis so they can all be found, if not terribly easily) on the nextbuses site.

TfL wanted to have shorter 5-digit numbers to promote instead of 8-digit numbers.

 

[BuhSnarf]

If you have android then an application called Bus Scout can help. Its free, but ad supported and has real time, scheduled and otherwise bus departures.

I really like an android app called Catch That Bus. Can customise fave stops and is really quick and easy to view.

Mobile real time (or even scheduled) info makes bus travel tons better.

 

[34D]

No TfL does not use the national bus stop number system in its own system (though all the stops have one, mapped on a 1-to-1 basis so they can all be found, if not terribly easily) on the nextbuses site.

TfL wanted to have shorter 5-digit numbers to promote instead of 8-digit numbers.

This is bizarre. Under the NAPTAN system London has the 490 range of numbers. I don't get why they couldn't knock the prefix off and still be left with a five digit number.

Totally confused here

 

[causton]

Even more confusing, I think TfL have another range of numbers used internally e.g. for identifying stops where certain posters are to be put up!

In Hertfordshire, the stops should be realtime soon, I was told the beginning of this year but it's crawling along, getting closer... closer!

It should be Uno, Centrebus, Metroline at first, as they have the new ticket machines which allow realtime reporting. (Maybe others?)
Arriva are getting new ticket machines but they aren't the same design as the other companies' - so it will remain to be seen as to whether they support realtime reporting or if Arriva have just wanted to be different and annoyingly not helpful!

 

[jon0844]

In Hertfordshire, the stops should be realtime soon, I was told the beginning of this year but it's crawling along, getting closer... closer!

So, the signs and apps should say:

Herts County Council Realtime Info * Delayed *
For more information, don't ask. Nobody knows.

Besides having put up digital signs that just say 'Refer to timetable' and have done so for months, I can't get anyone to explain when they might introduce smart ticketing.

Uno has said on Twitter it has no plans to do so, but has got m-tickets.. yet the links to the site to sell those doesn't work for me. What's more, it seems to be only on a couple of routes.

The technology is there, and at least it keeps Uno buses to time (so money well spent I guess!), but it seems crazy they can't get the real time information working or work out if they're going to introduce smartcards.

It's not as if Hertfordshire is inventing anything here, they could buy all the equipment off the shelf and get it working very quickly if they wanted. It's as if they know what they want, but have sod all idea on how to do it. Still if you look at the quality of the road resurfacing around here, or all the street lights they're turning off when it gets dark, I suppose we can see just how clueless the council is on transport issues!

 

[causton]

No no, the realtime screens outside the Market Place and Gracemead House did say actual bus times - I posted it on Uno's Facebook page! then it disappeared with no reasoning again... and don't get me started on the m-ticketing, available on one route which you can probably get on for free anyway, cause you're supposed to be a student but they never actually check! (I know, I got on with a Uno day ticket/Explorer which are also accepted but never asked for)

 

[jon0844]

Just found it.. and I don't think 'Hatfield Station' is a good description of the 607 circular bus. Yes, it obviously ends there (so as a destination it IS correct) but if you boarded it there for the station, you'd have a somewhat longer journey than crossing the road and boarding in the other direction!

I wonder if they can set up alternative destinations or a 'via' in the software, or perhaps the screens did do this?

 

[Skimble19]

Arriva will be using Wayfarer 200 machines I believe.. According to the poster I saw on the rather nice 11 reg bus the other day it will enable bus passes to tap in, so I'd guess smart ticketing will be possible. Not sure, if it mentioned real time information or not though.

 

[jon0844]

The Uno buses already take NFC bus passes too. Just seems that there's no plan to support anything else yet.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[causton]

Just found it.. and I don't think 'Hatfield Station' is a good description of the 607 circular bus. Yes, it obviously ends there (so as a destination it IS correct) but if you boarded it there for the station, you'd have a somewhat longer journey than crossing the road and boarding in the other direction!

I wonder if they can set up alternative destinations or a 'via' in the software, or perhaps the screens did do this?

They do say Hatfield Circular now on the Intalink app/departure screens (tempramentally), so I think they will when it gets (re)launched...
...
...
...

...however when the update happened, they also made the destination e.g. "Welwyn Garden City Bus Station, Stop 4" (who cares what stop it terminates at?) so it's swings and roundabouts!

 

[jon0844]

They should be able to show 'via' or even a full stopping pattern (at least that shown on a timetable) but for some reason bus displays never offer this. I wonder if there's any reason other than nobody having thought of it?

It's the one thing I think London could do with, even it would have meant a slightly bigger screen. Some stops have loads of buses stopping at a single bus stop and you need to 'cross reference' with the route map or individual timetables if you don't know the bus(es) you want.

 

[34D]

Just found it.. and I don't think 'Hatfield Station' is a good description of the 607 circular bus. Yes, it obviously ends there (so as a destination it IS correct) but if you boarded it there for the station, you'd have a somewhat longer journey than crossing the road and boarding in the other direction!

I wonder if they can set up alternative destinations or a 'via' in the software, or perhaps the screens did do this?

I can't answer for the system used down there, but on the RTI system used in Yorkshire it _is_ possible to display 'useful' destinations on the RTI screens (and text/web service) rather than just the final destination.

This is done to good effect on some circular type routes, and also on routes that are set down only (example 36 Harrogate-Leeds, X84 Skipton-Otley-Leeds) and the relevant stops display 'alighting only 5 mins' etc etc.

 

[jon0844]

A system designed by users perhaps? As against merely ticking a box.

London has excellent maps and guides but the screens only showing the destination mean people must cross reference. Imagine if train platform signs only had the destination! Just as seems to happen in mainland Europe quite frequently.

 

[Deerfold]

Even more confusing, I think TfL have another range of numbers used internally e.g. for identifying stops where certain posters are to be put up!

TfL has more sets of numbers to identify bus stops than some people have had hot dinners.

There's the internal number which is up to 5 digits and may or may not be preceded by 1 or 2 letters. Then the new number used to ask for the realtime data. Then 2 more internal sets used by the realtime system. Then there's shelter numbers.

 

[34D]

TfL has more sets of numbers to identify bus stops than some people have had hot dinners.

There's the internal number which is up to 5 digits and may or may not be preceded by 1 or 2 letters. Then the new number used to ask for the realtime data. Then 2 more internal sets used by the realtime system. Then there's shelter numbers.

Which is the actual NaPTAN though? I'm assuming the 9 digit 490 number? In which case, why have the others

 

[Deerfold]

Which is the actual NaPTAN though? I'm assuming the 9 digit 490 number? In which case, why have the others

Yes. The 9-digit number.

The letter/number combination predates this - and many internal systems use this number (in fact the oldest stops have had the same number for about 60 years but you can identify very new ones).

The shelter number is used by the company that puts them up - but we need to know it to identify where Countdown signs go (as sometimes a stop may have more than one shelter) or if a caller uses the shrlter number to identify a stop.

Why the realtime system internally uses different numbers I don't know, especially not why there's two sets - only the departments which work closely on this ever see those.