Audio/visual "next stop" announcements on buses

[TUC]

It’s not a case of ‘not bothering’. Theres a huge capital cost involved, and in particular, for the October 2026 deadline many buses will have to be fitted which will then be withdrawn over the next 6-18 months. Most of the costs will end up totally wasted - the cabling, labour, speakers, induction loops will all go to Barnsley. The screens and controller might just be re-usable.

Is there really thst much of a cost, when the technology needed is little different to satnavs and Google Maps that sit in many cars?

 

[markymark2000]

Is there really thst much of a cost, when the technology needed is little different to satnavs and Google Maps that sit in many cars?

The technology is there, but I think there is now an issue that the UK has so few companies with the tech. And what happens when there are few companies doing this sort of thing, and demand skyrockets?, prices go up and/or the supply chain crashes as there isn't enough stock for everyone or enough people to fit the equipment. And that seems to be where we are at now.
There is also the issue that it's not a one off thing, it's ongoing with any new contract wins and it can take time to set it up properly and have all announcements trigger at the correct time. As we have seen with Bus Open Data too, there are a LOT of operators out there currently who want their hand holding and can't/won't do anything unless someone does it all for them, so again puts more reliance upon the few people who are clued up on the next stop systems.

Blackpool Transport are quite good on this and even when their buses are away from Depot on various Rail Replacements jobs that they do despite where they are they will have the Rail Replacement route programmed in and appropriate announcements will be be made at every station stop by the on board system.

I was actually quite surprised once to be on a Blackpool Trnasport bus on a Rail Replacement job in Manchester and the announcements were working perfectly, I know they worked on normal service work but wasn't expecting them to be working on Rail Replacement jobs.

I have been similarly impressed by this. Warringtons Own Buses did the same on the Stockport Greek Street blockade.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Nottingham City Transport have them - alight here for Trent Bridge and the City Ground / alight here for the Lace Market National Ice Centre (can't remember if the Trent FM are a is part of that one!).

They've had screens so long the first buses I recall having them on the Green Line services (c.11 plate Solos) have since been replaced!

Old style screen, 16:9 (TV display) showing stopping on the left hand side, on the right side it's showing the next three stops, counterintuitively with the next one at the bottom, and current time.
View attachment 190596

New style display, very wide screen, with NCT advertising on the left hand side, and the next three stops with the current one still at the bottom
View attachment 190599

Hopefully the new ones are a lot more reliable than the old ones!

Where BSODs (Blue screen of death on Windows) and...
View attachment 190597

Windows XP rebooting were not too infrequent.
View attachment 190598

Not to mention Trent's are running windows 10 on the aesys stuff.

 

[TUC]

The technology is there, but I think there is now an issue that the UK has so few companies with the tech. And what happens when there are few companies doing this sort of thing, and demand skyrockets?, prices go up and/or the supply chain crashes as there isn't enough stock for everyone or enough people to fit the equipment. And that seems to be where we are at now.

But that's my point. That's makes it sound like specialist tech whereas if you sit on a bus with Google Maps running in public transport mode it will detect and announce each stop.

 

[Dai Corner]

But that's my point. That's makes it sound like specialist tech whereas if you sit on a bus with Google Maps running in public transport mode it will detect and announce each stop.

I agree. As I posted upthread

Thanks. That [£3000-£5000 per bus] sounds a lot for a couple of screens, some loudspeakers, an amplifier, cables, a device with less computing power than a cheap smartphone plus labour to install, but not much compared with the annual running cost of a bus.

 

[kevjs]

Not to mention Trent's are running windows 10 on the aesys stuff.

Actually a good point hidden there - Windows 10.reaches end of life this month meaning security updates, basically, end.

Including real-time information and departures at interchanges is going to require internet connectivity of some form (even if it's using a VPN backhaul) - Nottingham City Transport has a pretty young fleet compared with many companies - but it's fleet consists of buses from 2012 (just 13 years old) - that's before 4G and Windows 8 launched, so any internet connected computer equipment from when they were new will now have no usable connectivity out on the road (as 3G has ceased from most operators and 2G is effectively useless) and potentially be running operating systems that are no longer supported (Windows 7 standard support ended in 2020).

So if we are wanting audio and visual information to be kept up-to-date, especially with real time information or short notice changes*, it's more than just the upfront costs - but an ongoing maintenance liability & a constant update and regular upgrade programme.

Things like (e.g. 4G) modems are probably going to need upgrading every 10-15 years at best (e.g. EE turned off 3G in 2024, and 4G wasn't widespread in cities until c.2015) and potentially the computers powering these sort of displays and announcement systems will reach a point where upgrades cease to be viable. Probably something rather challenging for the smaller operators who probably have no dedicated IT staff.

Hopefully they have been designed with standard cables and a form factor so a new one/ones can be dropped in relatively easily.

* If you stick to longer term planned changes and pre-planned alternative routes, those can be accommodated with updates from an SD card or USB stick for example - but that doesn't help the visually impaired person or visitor who doesn't know about the diversion due to the closure brought on by a police incident , sinkhole opening up, or unusual diversion due to snow or flooding.

My local route has a couple of semi regular diversions that you could invisiage being on the system as hidden routes (e.g. 11CM when the 11C is running via Meadows Way) the driver could key in during planned roadworkds, but when you combine that with needing to divert on another road due to a sinkhole and turn short due to parked cars at the terminus - how's that going to work?

 

[markymark2000]

But that's my point. That's makes it sound like specialist tech whereas if you sit on a bus with Google Maps running in public transport mode it will detect and announce each stop.

There are also parts of the law which mandate, in laymans terms 'when the doors open, the bus must auto announce the route number and destination'. That means plugging into systems on the bus to know when the door is open. Maybe not ground breaking tech, but it's not off the shelf stuff either and I presume it'd need someone with bus knowledge to build such tech?

And when you are at a Hail and Ride area, passengers should be being informed that it is the start and end of a hail and ride area etc. Google maps doesn't know hail and ride areas, mainly because many councils haven't set up the stops that way in Naptan, so Google maps and any software would treat hail and ride areas, simply as unmarked bus stops. Even if the equipment costs comes down drastically, there will still be a huge upfront cost for the time it will take a human to go through and sort lots of things out with stop names, setting up all the variations and making sure things trigger at the right times.

 

[Dai Corner]

There are also parts of the law which mandate, in laymans terms 'when the doors open, the bus must auto announce the route number and destination'. That means plugging into systems on the bus to know when the door is open. Maybe not ground breaking tech, but it's not off the shelf stuff either and I presume it'd need someone with bus knowledge to build such tech?

An extra contact on the driver's open door button would do it. They're probably off the shelf parts and may well have a spare contact that could be used.

 

[JD2168]

Yesterday of the buses that had the system installed the Stagecoach E200 MMC on a 69 plate wasn’t working, the First SL67 plate StreetDeck wasn’t working but the First SV22 ex Eclipse Streetlite was working fully with announcements & screen showing

 

[Dwarfer1979]

But that's my point. That's makes it sound like specialist tech whereas if you sit on a bus with Google Maps running in public transport mode it will detect and announce each stop.

An extra contact on the driver's open door button would do it. They're probably off the shelf parts and may well have a spare contact that could be used.

The base technology isn't specialist per se, the application however is not usual. The problem is the environment the equipment is operating in - I would describe a bus as hundreds of components all vibrating at a different frequency travelling in close formation, if you rely on off the shelf components much of it will fail in weeks as they simply aren't designed for such an environment.

You need a couple of screens, ruggedised and securely mounted along with a number of speakers all wired in to integrate with multiple systems (destination blinds and/or ticket machines, door controls etc), the regs also require fitting of hearing loops (at least on certain vehicles not sure whether there is an age limit on that one and is a specialist product) all done without invalidating warranties and minimising the risk of creating extra failure points (just wiring in an extra contact to a major and heavily used component like door controls that isn't designed for it would be a major risk factor) and supplied in quantities of thousands across the industry. Someone needs to work out how to integrate all these systems, most bus companies don't have those sort of resources or expertise, and someone has to install it whether supplied by the manufacturer, independent contractor or members of the companies own staff it is a significant cost.

That is before you get to the programming, unless you want to rely on an unmediated computer generation producing incorrect pronunciations, someone has to go through every stop to adjust the set-up to get them to be pronounced correctly (essentially phonetic spelling) - we had two members of staff spending several weeks setting up the sound files. If you want to avoid all the things people on here have been commenting on like unhelpful or unclear names & local points of interest that takes a member of staff devoting a significant period of time per route to do this. All of this has a cost to the project.

I'm sure the bus industry would love to have more choice, particularly if someone came in with a cheaper and simpler product, but there isn't one and there are only a handful of suppliers and the kit is several thousand pounds each as it stands. If someone thinks they can do it cheaper and quicker then have at it, you'll make a killing.

 

[TUC]

I do get the feeling that this discussion on a bus development also reflects why rail developments in the UK are so expensive. Yes, things need to be done well, but in both sectors there does seem to be an overthinking approach.

 

[py_megapixel]

Curious one yesterday, a Wright Streetdeck with the announcements working on the lower deck only!

 

[TUC]

There are also parts of the law which mandate, in laymans terms 'when the doors open, the bus must auto announce the route number and destination'. That means plugging into systems on the bus to know when the door is open. Maybe not ground breaking tech, but it's not off the shelf stuff either and I presume it'd need someone with bus knowledge to build such tech?

And when you are at a Hail and Ride area, passengers should be being informed that it is the start and end of a hail and ride area etc. Google maps doesn't know hail and ride areas, mainly because many councils haven't set up the stops that way in Naptan, so Google maps and any software would treat hail and ride areas, simply as unmarked bus stops. Even if the equipment costs comes down drastically, there will still be a huge upfront cost for the time it will take a human to go through and sort lots of things out with stop names, setting up all the variations and making sure things trigger at the right times.

There does need to be a reality check on matters such as this in that, for better or worse, many services with hail and ride have no indication of this for passengers generally, and so passengers reliant upon audible announcements are not losing out by comparison.

 

[markymark2000]

There does need to be a reality check on matters such as this in that, for better or worse, many services with hail and ride have no indication of this for passengers generally, and so passengers reliant upon audible announcements are not losing out by comparison.

The hail and ride thing is already done on TFL buses, but yes I agree there is often poor information on hail and ride areas.
The whole law is rushed though so I'm not overly surprised there are issues. But sadly, that's what we are dealing with thanks to our highly skilled, London centric civil servants who wouldn't use a bus even if they were paid to get on them.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

On Kinchbus's service 5 in Loughborough, there are a whole series of bus stops with generic or straight-up incorrect names:

• "Sharpley Road". This is on a side road between Old Ashby Road and Hermitage Road, and not especially close to Sharpley Road.
• "Green". This stop on Hermitage Road is named for the semicircular patch of grass next to it. Additionally , the bus stop sign is also on the wrong side of the road: the 5 used to run in both directions along Hermitage Road, but now only runs along this street towards Loughborough town centre.
• "Hermitage Road". This stop is on Sharpley Road.
• "Jitty". A jitty is a local term for an alleyway, the jitty in question being an unnamed footpath between houses running between Sharpley Road, where the stop is situated, and New Ashby Road.
• "Shops". Near the top end of Sharpley Road is a row of shops situated on Hermitage Way, a footpath running between Old Ashby Road and New Ashby Road and bisecting Hermitage Road and Sharpley Road.

Also in Loughborough: another stop with an inaccurate name, not served by the service 5, are the stops named "Registry Office": the registry office was relocated a long time ago. Kinchbus have recently replaced the flags, despite none of their services using these stops: the new flags are labelled "Register Office".

I believe this could go on as its own thread... I haven't even mentioned the two other stops with misspelled names on flags that I spotted last year!

If there is a generic name, I think Skylink team leader Michael will have recorded what's nearby, or say something like "We're now arriving at Sharpley Road Shops." He does this on Skylink Derby.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Oct 2025 ==

I feel like too, we could introduce this legislation to roadside real time displays too, where bus stops were required to have an audible info system like the react system fitted, or do like Lincoln (and the vix totems in Leeds) where there is stops with a push button.

 

[geoffk]

A wide range of experiences there and, as I started this one, I can say that our local operator has decided that stop names recorded by a human are less time-consuming than using an AI voice, on which much time was spent spelling names out phonetically to achieve the correct pronunciation. They are also working with Devon CC on a review of stop names in the county (there's a separate thread on this). New electric buses will have a different system including screens that can provide much more information. We (the bus user group) are hopeful that there will be results by the end of the month.

 

[SSmith2009]

I feel like too, we could introduce this legislation to roadside real time displays too, where bus stops were required to have an audible info system like the react system fitted, or do like Lincoln (and the vix totems in Leeds) where there is stops with a push button.

Leicester Buses branded stops with RTPI displays have this push button feature that uses an AI voice, which speaks the information, although sometimes it pronounces names rather oddly.

One such example is Eyres Monsell it says it like Eyes Munzell.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Leicester Buses branded stops with RTPI displays have this push button feature that uses an AI voice, which speaks the information, although sometimes it pronounces names rather oddly.

One such example is Eyres Monsell it says it like Eyes Munzell.

It’s the same here in Lincoln, although the displays are there, buttons only feature at some major stops in the county as I think they are gradually being rolled out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Oct 2025 ==

A wide range of experiences there and, as I started this one, I can say that our local operator has decided that stop names recorded by a human are less time-consuming than using an AI voice, on which much time was spent spelling names out phonetically to achieve the correct pronunciation. They are also working with Devon CC on a review of stop names in the county (there's a separate thread on this). New electric buses will have a different system including screens that can provide much more information. We (the bus user group) are hopeful that there will be results by the end of the month.

Trent have always used a human voice, or should I say 5 human voices, depending on which depot the route is serving. I have managed to meet 2 irl, and they are all drivers.

 

[Nammer]

Stagecoach in Portsmouth use local radio presenter Rick Jackson for their next stop announcements. It is very rare to find a bus without the screens working from my experience.

 

[joieman]

Leicester Buses branded stops with RTPI displays have this push button feature that uses an AI voice, which speaks the information, although sometimes it pronounces names rather oddly.

One such example is Eyres Monsell it says it like Eyes Munzell.

I think not installing them in the two bus stations is a bit of an oversight.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

I think not installing them in the two bus stations is a bit of an oversight.

They could’ve implemented the react access trigger system on the existing ones like the old INIT keyfob service

 

[busken]

Reading Buses have it fitted to all, or nearly all its vehicles. The announcements must have been recorded by 2 or more people, because occasionally it changes from male to female, and back again in the middle of a journey!

 

[kevjs]

A wide range of experiences there and, as I started this one, I can say that our local operator has decided that stop names recorded by a human are less time-consuming than using an AI voice, on which much time was spent spelling names out phonetically to achieve the correct pronunciation. They are also working with Devon CC on a review of stop names in the county (there's a separate thread on this). New electric buses will have a different system including screens that can provide much more information. We (the bus user group) are hopeful that there will be results by the end of the month.

Nottingham City Transport uses radio present David Lloyd to record all there announcement - apparently it took 3 8 hour days to record them all.

"A few years ago [head of marketing] Antony Carver-Smith got in touch with me [David Lloyd] and asked 'how do you fancy being the voice of the buses and recording all the announcements for us?' A little like 'mind the gap' on the tube in London.

"I said 'OK. It sounds like a lot of work'."

It was a lot of work. David sat in his studio for three days, eight hours at a time, reading "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of different bus stops, warnings and other announcements.

"I try to vary them a little bit and not have them sound the same," he said. And anyone who is a regular on the buses will notice the tonal shifts, such as his jovial 'Hucknall Road' (the stop he alighted at for a favourite restaurant, he tells me).

"One person asked me 'what happened at Lammas Gardens?'," recalled David. "He said 'the way you say it is with a sense of doom. A sense of something once awful happened there.'

"Sure enough I do say it as if something really awful once happened there. Nothing ever has. I think I just tried to vary it and it sounds quite menacing."

Nottingham Post: This man tells you where to get off the bus every day - and you've never met him

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Nottingham City Transport uses radio present David Lloyd to record all there announcement - apparently it took 3 8 hour days to record them all.



Nottingham Post: This man tells you where to get off the bus every day - and you've never met him

Ahh on trentbarton and Kinch, the known names of 2 voices are:
James Davidson: Derby Depot routes
Michael Meyerstein: All Kinchbus services and Skylink Nottingham.

 

[SSmith2009]

Ahh on trentbarton and Kinch, the known names of 2 voices are:
James Davidson: Derby Depot routes
Michael Meyerstein: All Kinchbus services and Skylink Nottingham.

Didn't they also have East Midlands Today's Anne Davies providing some voiceovers at one point too.

 

[MCR247]

Didn't they also have East Midlands Today's Anne Davies providing some voiceovers at one point too.

I think that was back in the indigo or even maybe rainbow 5 days

 

[DanielTheEMid]

I think that was back in the indigo or even maybe rainbow 5 days

Lisa Dransfield did some too, on skylink, when they introduced the INIT system, they used driver Elaine allitt.

 

[43055]

Definitely seen aesys do it on Trentbarton. Every time we reached swallow drive on the mainline, the driver just entered the Nottingham trip on the ticketer and boom, does not need to touch the TC430 at all. IDK if it does it on the Eg4s on Skylink Derby and Red Arrow, one thing the Hanover eg4 kept looping James Davidson's "This is red arrow to Nottingham" a couple of times when we got to Derby.

The auto destinations are good but become a pain when you want to put something else up like 'Not in service' because it automatically returns back to the programed destination once the ticket machine moves onto the next stop.

 

[Dai Corner]

The auto destinations are good but become a pain when you want to put something else up like 'Not in service' because it automatically returns back to the programed destination once the ticket machine moves onto the next stop.

Sounds like poorly specified or written software.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

I think not installing them in the two bus stations is a bit of an oversight.

This one is located in Leicester railway station, maybe St Margarets and Haymarket could do with them.