Strangest bus destination screens?

[kez19]

Give Us a Smile -- NX/Travel Dundee(Xplore Dundee), I'm guessing it was used as another "not in service"

The other thing with Xplore Dundee recently is that the number 9/10s are "circulars" but they class it as one displaying like this:

9: Barnhill
Circular: Via destination points

10: Ninewells Hospital
Circular: Via.... (these points now scroll along the screen)

previously they ran the displays as

Destination in caps but for one it ran like this:

NINEWELLS
via destination points then end with Hospital -- that setup was just odd.

 

[John Griffiths]

Is it possible to buy a return ticket?

Actually, I think "Cemetery" or "Cemetery Gates" was the terminus of several municipal bus/tram routes in the past, as they usually just ran to the town boundary, and the cemetery was usually located on the edge of the town.

That sounds likely. Another explanation I have heard is that late C19/early c20 tram lines terminated at cemeteries as the operators were obliged to provide a Sunday service, and, in days when shops, cinemas and (in some places) pubs would be shut, they needed some passengers, and visiting the dear departed filled that need.

 

[Mal]

Could you include WMPTE buses in Birmingham showing the route number and outer destination with a small screen which showed 'To City' or 'From City' below which the driver had to just switch instead of changing t
he the destination screen?

 

[TheSel]

Deveron Coaches used to display ‘Service 341’ on their screens for the New Elgin circular. It was a bit odd as it didn’t show where the bus was going. They changed this later to show the destination and via points.

In the same vein, this - taken in Bury just before the Covid-19 lockdown (14 March 2020) - is a fine example of how NOT to program an electronic display to convey accurate, comprehensive and welcoming information to prospective customers.

 

[D2007wsm]

Abus in Bristol sometimes display ‘To the moon’ on the front of their buses which are out of service

 

[LancasterRed]

In the same vein, this - taken in Bury just before the Covid-19 lockdown (14 March 2020) - is a fine example of how NOT to program an electronic display to convey accurate, comprehensive and welcoming information to prospective customers.

View attachment 78044

Ah, this is typical of Diamond.

Over in Preston the buses often display the wrong destination!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Abus in Bristol sometimes display ‘To the moon’ on the front of their buses which are out of service

Do they?

I recall that Wessex used to do that but not seen one on Abus

 

[Andy Pacer]

In the same vein, this - taken in Bury just before the Covid-19 lockdown (14 March 2020) - is a fine example of how NOT to program an electronic display to convey accurate, comprehensive and welcoming information to prospective customers.

View attachment 78044

That looks like the set up is all wrong and the front display thinks it's a rear!

 

[Pat1105]

In the same vein, this - taken in Bury just before the Covid-19 lockdown (14 March 2020) - is a fine example of how NOT to program an electronic display to convey accurate, comprehensive and welcoming information to prospective customers.

View attachment 78044

One of my pet hates is dodgy/incorrect/vague destination screens. I think it shows that the operator simply can’t be bothered.

Although not incorrect, Arriva Shrewsbury’s destination screens are quite vague. Granted, they show the final destination of the service, however they don’t all display the via points. For example, service 23 just displays ‘Monkmoor’. It doesn’t give any indication of the via points: Shirehall, Belvidere and Abbots Green. For passengers who don’t know the service, showing the points that the service calls at gives them confidence that they know they’re getting on the right service. I think Arriva have focussed too much on making the blinds look nice (as they aren’t standard Helen fonts) rather than providing their passengers with the necessary information that they need.

 

[Andy Pacer]

One of my pet hates is dodgy/incorrect/vague destination screens. I think it shows that the operator simply can’t be bothered.

Although not incorrect, Arriva Shrewsbury’s destination screens are quite vague. Granted, they show the final destination of the service, however they don’t all display the via points. For example, service 23 just displays ‘Monkmoor’. It doesn’t give any indication of the via points: Shirehall, Belvidere and Abbots Green. For passengers who don’t know the service, showing the points that the service calls at gives them confidence that they know they’re getting on the right service. I think Arriva have focussed too much on making the blinds look nice (as they aren’t standard Helen fonts) rather than providing their passengers with the necessary information that they need.

This is an interesting observation, as I *think* the depot there do their own destinations, which usually (and there are exceptions) this results in a better outcome (as it's often an enthusiast or someone who has more of an interest).

 

[Pat1105]

This is an interesting observation, as I *think* the depot there do their own destinations, which usually (and there are exceptions) this results in a better outcome (as it's often an enthusiast or someone who has more of an interest).

Yes, I think Shrewsbury do their own blinds. I know that Telford do their own blinds, but they use the Helen asymmetric super x function and incorporate all of the via points. Oswestry depot use the same style of font that Shrewsbury do, however they have rotations with a ‘pay by contactless’ logo. I presume it is the same person who does both Shrewsbury and Oswestry. Some of Shrewsbury’s blinds incorporate a via point, like the 24 that has ‘via Sundorne’ on it. However, it doesn’t mention any other via points, such as Castlefields and Ditherington.

 

[TheSel]

This is an interesting observation, as I *think* the depot there do their own destinations, which usually (and there are exceptions) this results in a better outcome (as it's often an enthusiast or someone who has more of an interest).

One of my pet hates is dodgy/incorrect/vague destination screens. I think it shows that the operator simply can’t be bothered.

Although not incorrect, Arriva Shrewsbury’s destination screens are quite vague. Granted, they show the final destination of the service, however they don’t all display the via points. For example, service 23 just displays ‘Monkmoor’. It doesn’t give any indication of the via points: Shirehall, Belvidere and Abbots Green. For passengers who don’t know the service, showing the points that the service calls at gives them confidence that they know they’re getting on the right service. I think Arriva have focussed too much on making the blinds look nice (as they aren’t standard Helen fonts) rather than providing their passengers with the necessary information that they need.

Agree with both these points, but beware the danger of too much information in terms of via points. Not only can it take a very long time to scroll through, but if you've got a service from A to F, via B, C, D and E - so on leaving A you display "F via B, C, D, E" and leave it unchanged, you can have the danger that you get to D, and someone gets on, not caring about the final destination, but having seen that this bus is going "somewhere" via C - which is where they want to go. SMART information, that removes 'via' points from the display once you've past that point is what's required, but very rarely provided.

 

[Pat1105]

Agree with both these points, but beware the danger of too much information in terms of via points. Not only can it take a very long time to scroll through, but if you've got a service from A to F, via B, C, D and E - so on leaving A you display "F via B, C, D, E" and leave it unchanged, you can have the danger that you get to D, and someone gets on, not caring about the final destination, but having seen that this bus is going "somewhere" via C - which is where they want to go. SMART information, that removes 'via' points from the display once you've past that point is what's required, but very rarely provided.

I understand what you mean here, however companies that display the via points display a set blind for the duration of the route. It isn’t changed once you get past each via point. Really, it is up to passengers to ensure that they’re getting on the right bus going in the right direction. This is aided by bus stop literature and in some areas, stop flags that say ‘towards X’.

 

[D2007wsm]

Do they?

I recall that Wessex used to do that but not seen one on Abus

Well they did, you used to see it most nights in the bus station on a single decker which came in off of a Nailsea service and then went back to the depot dead. I have also seen it on one of the 349 deckers too.

 

[Statto]

Don't know if it's already been posted how about this one Greave in Greater Manchester.

261. TJI 2488: GM Buses South (originally KDW 347P)

GM Buses South 261 is entering Stockport Bus Station. It is a Leyland National 11351A/1R/SC which was new in 1975 as Jones, Aberbeeg no. ND175 (later ND3975), in due course absorbed into the National Welsh fleet (no. ND1401). Acquired by GM South from Golden Coaches, Llantwit Major, it was...

www.flickr.com

 

[Andy Pacer]

Agree with both these points, but beware the danger of too much information in terms of via points. Not only can it take a very long time to scroll through, but if you've got a service from A to F, via B, C, D and E - so on leaving A you display "F via B, C, D, E" and leave it unchanged, you can have the danger that you get to D, and someone gets on, not caring about the final destination, but having seen that this bus is going "somewhere" via C - which is where they want to go. SMART information, that removes 'via' points from the display once you've past that point is what's required, but very rarely provided.

It's a tricky one. I believe less is more in mist occasions - but then when I am in an unfamiliar town or city I wish for more information (as long as helpful and acccurate).

 

[carlberry]

I understand what you mean here, however companies that display the via points display a set blind for the duration of the route. It isn’t changed once you get past each via point. Really, it is up to passengers to ensure that they’re getting on the right bus going in the right direction. This is aided by bus stop literature and in some areas, stop flags that say ‘towards X’.

This is why via points are useless. If you're local you already know where it's going, if you're not you read the via points and think 'so thats the bus to xyz' because that's what it says.

 

[TheSel]

I understand what you mean here, however companies that display the via points display a set blind for the duration of the route. It isn’t changed once you get past each via point. Really, it is up to passengers to ensure that they’re getting on the right bus going in the right direction. This is aided by bus stop literature and in some areas, stop flags that say ‘towards X’.

Exactly. That's the point. And I'm not expecting the hard-pressed driver to have another task placed upon them, rather I am suggesting using the same GPS-based technology that already exists (to inform the company HQ [and, hence, other 'open' sources] where the bus is at any given moment), that same technology could delete from the scrolling display the via point just passed.

 

[TheSel]

This is why via points are useless. If you're local you already know where it's going, if you're not you read the via points and think 'so thats the bus to xyz' because that's what it says.

A fair point. I remember a vivid illustration of this, going back almost forty years. I was on Crosville's L1 (the lengthy Cymru Coastliner), from Chester via Prestatyn, Rhyl and all coastal points to Caernarfon, correctly displaying 'CAERNARFON L1'. In Colwyn Bay, an elderly couple boarded and the following conversation ensued:

"Is this the bus to Bangor?"
"Yes"
"Good. Two to Llandudno, please"

 

[Pat1105]

Exactly. That's the point. And I'm not expecting the hard-pressed driver to have another task placed upon them, rather I am suggesting using the same GPS-based technology that already exists (to inform the company HQ [and, hence, other 'open' sources] where the bus is at any given moment), that same technology could delete from the scrolling display the via point just passed.

I’m not sure if the destination blinds and GPS can be linked somehow, but it would be good if companies could do this.
At the end of the day, it is ultimately the passengers’ responsibility to ensure that they’re getting on the correct bus, not that of the company. Whilst the company are obliged to provide the passenger with route information, some people can’t always read!

 

[Geordie driver]

When I started this thread I didn't take into account modern buses have electronic screens and the operators can put up anything they wish at short notice, which shows you how long it is since I drove in normal service work.

Many of our older vehicles had terribly worn gears which made changing destination a knuckle scraping nightmare!

I have had passengers in the past board then complain on arrival that they were not where they expected to be as they hadn't read the destination screen.

Still my fault somehow?!

 

[Pat1105]

When I started this thread I didn't take into account modern buses have electronic screens and the operators can put up anything they wish at short notice, which shows you how long it is since I drove in normal service work.

Many of our older vehicles had terribly worn gears which made changing destination a knuckle scraping nightmare!

I have had passengers in the past board then complain on arrival that they were not where they expected to be as they hadn't read the destination screen.

Still my fault somehow?!

Passengers not reading the destination blind is an all too common occurrence. I’ve even seen passengers look at the destination screen and then ask the driver where they’re going!

 

[carlberry]

Passengers not reading the destination blind is an all too common occurrence. I’ve even seen passengers look at the destination screen and then ask the driver where they’re going!

Many years ago I was waiting for a bus at the half way point on a long service (Bath-Swindon). A bus draws up onto the correct stand for where I want to go (Bath), but with the wrong destination. As a bus in the other direction was already on it's correct stand I asked if this was the bus to Bath. The sarky comment from the driver was 'what does it say on the front', my reply 'Swindon'. No apology from the driver but he did at least correct it.

 

[Pat1105]

Many years ago I was waiting for a bus at the half way point on a long service (Bath-Swindon). A bus draws up onto the correct stand for where I want to go (Bath), but with the wrong destination. As a bus in the other direction was already on it's correct stand I asked if this was the bus to Bath. The sarky comment from the driver was 'what does it say on the front', my reply 'Swindon'. No apology from the driver but he did at least correct it.

That’s a common problem. Some companies show on the duty card what should be displayed on the blind, so reminds the driver display the correct destination when preparing for the next trip.

 

[Trackman]

Ah, this is typical of Diamond.

Over in Preston the buses often display the wrong destination!

I was at Bolton Interchange after Diamond had taken over with their new destination software. Someone asked me when the next no.8 to Manchester was. I said there was one already in- he said 'No, that's going to Shudehill!'

Also First had some single deckers from somewhere near London about 15 years ago, problem on the first day when they punched in the number in it displayed a destination 200 miles away. So it was A4 paper with the service number written until they sorted it out.

 

[LancasterRed]

I was at Bolton Interchange after Diamond had taken over with their new destination software. Someone asked me when the next no.8 to Manchester was. I said there was one already in- he said 'No, that's going to Shudehill!'

I thought this was going the way of the 15 example I've discussed previously. This is just a lack of common sense though, wow!

Also First had some single deckers from somewhere near London about 15 years ago, problem on the first day when they punched in the number in it displayed a destination 200 miles away. So it was A4 paper with the service number written until they sorted it out.

You could have replaced 'First' with Rotala and I'd believe this too.

 

[M60lad]

Regarding GPS and destination software I'm pretty sure it works as Transdev Blazefield use or used to use it on their destination displays also Manchesters Metrolink Destination displays automaticaly update themselves when they get to certain points along the route.

As for Diamond Northwest Destination displays I know upto recently they had someone who was in charge of the CCTV sorting it out in his spare time but he's recently been put on furlough so nothing seems to be done with them at the moment.

 

[PeterC]

One of my pet hates is dodgy/incorrect/vague destination screens. I think it shows that the operator simply can’t be bothered.

Although not incorrect, Arriva Shrewsbury’s destination screens are quite vague. Granted, they show the final destination of the service, however they don’t all display the via points. For example, service 23 just displays ‘Monkmoor’. It doesn’t give any indication of the via points: Shirehall, Belvidere and Abbots Green. For passengers who don’t know the service, showing the points that the service calls at gives them confidence that they know they’re getting on the right service. I think Arriva have focussed too much on making the blinds look nice (as they aren’t standard Helen fonts) rather than providing their passengers with the necessary information that they need.

This is now standard in London. As a boy visiting family in S Wales I remember that Western Welsh didn't even display a route number, just a destination.

 

[PeterC]

Passengers not reading the destination blind is an all too common occurrence. I’ve even seen passengers look at the destination screen and then ask the driver where they’re going!

The driver on our local service once recounted the story of a passenger who insisted that the bus must be going to her housing estate because her outbound service had a similar looking female driver. Not only was the route number and destination different but the bus was operated by a different company and painted a totally different colour.

 

[Pat1105]

This is now standard in London. As a boy visiting family in S Wales I remember that Western Welsh didn't even display a route number, just a destination.

I don’t think that it is particularly helpful just displaying the destination, especially in London where you get many tourists using the buses who aren’t familiar with the route. Yes people can look up the route they need on their phone, and most do, but displaying the all/most of the points the bus goes to is a reassurance that you’re getting on the right bus.