Arriva live bus times map

[Hophead]

I've not generally associated Arriva with words such as dynamism and innovation (although I know they were early adopters of mobile phone ticketing). However, I recently followed up a link to a nationwide live bus times map. Has anyone else seen this? It seems to cover everywhere - just zoom in to take a look to see where a bus is right now. + indicates late-running and a tick shows a bus on time, so far as I can tell. It gets a bit busy in places like Liverpool, but I can see endless scope for time-wasting fun here.

Do any other operators have anything like this? Abellio Surrey have a map, but you need to select the route first.

 

[causton]

I've used the app to get the bus many times but didn't know it was on their website!

There is also the London Bus one using open data, but it is only per route as well...
http://traintimes.org.uk/map/london-buses/#65

 

[Y961 XBU]

The 1 on its website is crap as it dont state how late the service is running

 

[Robertj21a]

The 1 on its website is crap as it dont state how late the service is running

Don't know where you are looking, it shows up ok wherever I look.

 

[embers25]

I've not generally associated Arriva with words such as dynamism and innovation (although I know they were early adopters of mobile phone ticketing). However, I recently followed up a link to a nationwide live bus times map. Has anyone else seen this? It seems to cover everywhere - just zoom in to take a look to see where a bus is right now. + indicates late-running and a tick shows a bus on time, so far as I can tell. It gets a bit busy in places like Liverpool, but I can see endless scope for time-wasting fun here.

Do any other operators have anything like this? Abellio Surrey have a map, but you need to select the route first.

The app is a start but it is often hopelessly wrong, even with buses that are tracking and here in Woking, it really struggles to handle to double calls to serve the station on the 34 and 35.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 1 on its website is crap as it dont state how late the service is running

Hover over the bus, if I recall. But if you're using it as a normal, you know roughly how long it takes to drive a given section of road near you. So if I'm looking to catch my local service, I have a nose at the map and see where one is. I know that if I leave home when it starts off from the bus station, I'll catch it comfortably. It's of slightly less relevance how late it is as where it is.

Neil

 

[radamfi]

If Arriva do real-time info for all their buses in the country, how come the real-time info doesn't appear on third party apps, such as Bus Scout for Android?

 

[Via Bank]

If Arriva do real-time info for all their buses in the country, how come the real-time info doesn't appear on third party apps, such as Bus Scout for Android?

Because that would require Arriva to provide an API to allow app developers to use this data. Being a profit-making company they are under no obligation to release this data.

 

[GodAtum]

never seen this in the 10 years ive used arriva when did they make the site?

 

[Hophead]

No idea. I just stumbled across it a couple of days ago via some sort of news link - others here are hinting that it's been around for a while in some form or other.

 

[extendedpaul]

Hey this is fun. Just watched a local bus move along the main road close to where I live and it passed the bottom of the road just as I looked out the front door. It was early and has waited at the bus stop - good driver !

 

[embers25]

No idea. I just stumbled across it a couple of days ago via some sort of news link - others here are hinting that it's been around for a while in some form or other.

I've been using it since September but it is so often wrong that I certainly wouldn't rely on it but it is better than nothing. On the 34 from Guildford to Camberley for example it rarely updates until 5-10 mins out of Guildford and even then is normally wrong. Also it often shows buses as not moving any further after Jacobswell (about 15 mins in) and whilst there are VERY frequent breakdowns on the route they aren't as frequent as that.

The 437 from Woking often gets confused which side of the station its on and shows live times out by 40+ minutes which on a route taking less than 30 is a joke! Then again late running of up to 40 mins also is not that uncommon so you never know if its an error or real...so realllly useful.

It does also suffer because drivers like to sit at Woking station and not leave till much later than their scheduled time. The biggest cuprit being the 462 at 0735 to Guildford which arrives in Woking light from the depot and often passes my stop 3 minutes from the station heading to start its trip at 0720 and yet somehow doesn't leave until 0750-0800 or worse and then runs late for the rest of the day!

Oh the joys of Arriva Surrey commutes....it really makes you appreciate just how reliable and punctual SWT from Woking are compared.

 

[Robertj21a]

never seen this in the 10 years ive used arriva when did they make the site?

The App for mobile phones has been out for about 9-12 months and is the more accurate of the two. The later version for the PC/laptop etc has only been around for 3-4 months and was very poor to start off with. I use both versions quite regularly and have seen significant improvements. It should be quite accurate as it's generated by a chip in the ticket machine on the bus, coupled with GPS of course.

 

[embers25]

The App for mobile phones has been out for about 9-12 months and is the more accurate of the two. The later version for the PC/laptop etc has only been around for 3-4 months and was very poor to start off with. I use both versions quite regularly and have seen significant improvements. It should be quite accurate as it's generated by a chip in the ticket machine on the bus, coupled with GPS of course.

I use the mobile app and it is NOT very accurate. If it does use the ticket machine though maybe that explains the issue given the ticket machines in Woking are often dead or faulty (turning off repeatedly and requiring drivers to hit them correctly!). At least once a week I travel free due to no machine...also on their last trip before the end of their shift several 34 drivers turn their machine off during wait time at Woking station and so everyone travels free between there and Guildford.