Audio/visual "next stop" announcements on buses

[blueberry11]

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

They have something like that at St Stephens Street in Norwich, when the street was renovated a few years ago.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Stagecoach East Scotland is a mixed bag of nothing really, almost all the buses just show the clock, 1 or 2 of them also have a 'Remain seated until the bus stops' announcement (which no one follows anyway, infact I suspect if you didn't stand up before it stops some bus drivers would assume it was a miss press and drive on) when someone presses the bell, a few others also show 'Stop requested' on the screen, but none are showing stops or announcing them.

That's pretty much the situation down here at Stagecoach East, at least with regards to their Bedford-based routes I've used. I only saw the actual route/stop announcements used on the 9A/B/D when the screens were first fitted on some of their buses back in February. Since then the displays have only ever shown the date and time, and 'Stop Requested' when the bell is pressed (even today when all their buses, by law, should be running route/stop announcements, as all buses used on the 9A/B/D are 64-plate and newer, they still only show the aforementioned).

 

[DanielTheEMid]

That's pretty much the situation down here at Stagecoach East, at least with regards to their Bedford-based routes I've used. I only saw the actual route/stop announcements used on the 9A/B/D when the screens were first fitted on some of their buses back in February. Since then the displays have only ever shown the date and time, and 'Stop Requested' when the bell is pressed (even today when all their buses, by law, should be running route/stop announcements, as all buses used on the 9A/B/D are 64-plate and newer, they still only show the aforementioned).

Centrebus is definitely leading the way here, all routes set up and working. I think it’s the only Lincolnshire opco that has complied really.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Oct 2025 ==

Stagecoach East Midlands have not updated the HTCs as of yet, as 10742 sti says it is going to hull interchange despite the dest set for Lincoln

 

[BuhSnarf]

One of the better Passenger Information Systems I've used is the one that is onboard Go Whippet's Mellor Sigma electric buses on the U1/2 route on the Cambridge Busway. These have really clear screens that give next few stops, they also announce approach and arrival at stops along with local attractions around the stops - which is great for tourists.

Interestingly they also have a couple of different voices on board. I rode the whole route when I did a video about these buses a month or so back and at different stops it's announced with male and female voices and also an AI sounding voice at some stops. I remember years ago reading that alternating voices for announcements helps to reduce the amount of times that a customer will just 'tune them out' so I wonder if that's why these buses do this.

Sadly, of course, these are some of the only examples of the Mellor buses

 

[DanielTheEMid]

One of the better Passenger Information Systems I've used is the one that is onboard Go Whippet's Mellor Sigma electric buses on the U1/2 route on the Cambridge Busway. These have really clear screens that give next few stops, they also announce approach and arrival at stops along with local attractions around the stops - which is great for tourists.

Interestingly they also have a couple of different voices on board. I rode the whole route when I did a video about these buses a month or so back and at different stops it's announced with male and female voices and also an AI sounding voice at some stops. I remember years ago reading that alternating voices for announcements helps to reduce the amount of times that a customer will just 'tune them out' so I wonder if that's why these buses do this.

Sadly, of course, these are some of the only examples of the Mellor buses

SCEM used to use different voices for the destination and next stop messages from Elevenlabs and it works out well.

 

[lukem]

First West of England had the upstairs next stop screen upside down.
At least it still worked..

 

[DanielTheEMid]

First West of England had the upstairs next stop screen upside down.
At least it still worked..

At least you can have Fran say “Next stop, Stoke parrrrk”

 

[dgl]

An interesting observation on one of First Wessex's ex. Bristol E400MMC's was that the route wasn't set up/working on the audio/visual system and at every stop 0nce the doors close it would announce "This is the" or something like that, leaving out the normal route information.

 

[E B]

Apologies if it has already been asked, but will this regulation eventually apply to older buses aswell?

 

[joieman]

Apologies if it has already been asked, but will this regulation eventually apply to older buses aswell?

Yes, everything from 1973 onwards (I think) must be compliant by next autumn.

I travelled on another of Arriva's 17-plate E200MMCs yesterday evening on the service 58: this bus has yet to be fitted with an audio-video announcement system. (This bus has branding on the ceiling for the services 508/9/10 in Stansted.)

 

[alex397]

Yes, everything from 1973 onwards (I think) must be compliant by next autumn.

That means it won’t have to be installed on RMs and RTs that run on Epping Ongar Railway’s 339 then!
That is a registered public bus service with local fares charged.
Though if they ever ran one of their Titans again on the route, I wonder if it would have to have it installed!

 

[WM Bus]

Yes, everything from 1973 onwards (I think) must be compliant by next autumn.

I travelled on another of Arriva's 17-plate E200MMCs yesterday evening on the service 58: this bus has yet to be fitted with an audio-video announcement system. (This bus has branding on the ceiling for the services 508/9/10 in Stansted.)

LN69ORC (which was on the 15 on Tuesday) at Diamond has yet to have them as well and that is a 69 plate.

Not sure if Diamond intend to keep these mellors long term?

 

[SSmith2009]

Yes, everything from 1973 onwards (I think) must be compliant by next autumn.

I travelled on another of Arriva's 17-plate E200MMCs yesterday evening on the service 58: this bus has yet to be fitted with an audio-video announcement system. (This bus has branding on the ceiling for the services 508/9/10 in Stansted.)

I'm sure most of the batch in Leicester already had working NSA equipment fitted using the tv screen under the bus stopping signs.

 

[E B]

Yes, everything from 1973 onwards (I think) must be compliant by next autumn.

Thank you.

All of Nuneaton's brand new Yutongs have a passenger information system, aswell as most/all of the Arriva MMC's (17/22 plate) and Streetlites (64 plate) have them aswell. Stagecoach's E200's from 2010, 2012 and 2013 don't have one yet but I expect they will start receiving them soon

 

[joieman]

I'm sure most of the batch in Leicester already had working NSA equipment fitted using the tv screen under the bus stopping signs.

The one I was on was just showing CCTV footage.

 

[coach fan]

These were recently added to national express coaches. They were so bad however, they’ve now been unadded.

 

[pepperpot80]

Tangentially related, but it seems Google Maps now has live bus locations, wonder if this might be something that could be used on-bus in future when using the journey planner.

 

[318266]

Wouldn't make much sense to use it for such as it is delayed by about 30 seconds to a minute compared to your phone's GPS. Notably, Google snaps the vehicle tracking to the nearest road, the sort of data post-processing I see often missed from sites like bustimes.

 

[RareApe]

Stagecoach Mansfield has installed digital screens and speakers onto a lot of the Enviro 200s. They are currently only showing the time, and the speakers are on low volume saying, "Please stay seated until the vehicle comes to a full stop."

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Stagecoach Mansfield has installed digital screens and speakers onto a lot of the Enviro 200s. They are currently only showing the time, and the speakers are on low volume saying, "Please stay seated until the vehicle comes to a full stop."

Funny, considering the prontos and 73 plates work, and grimsby managed to get their data uploaded.

 

[Ozz]

Delaine Buses onboard system seems to function pretty well.

301 Saturdays is AD68DBL/KX57BWD working in tandem generally, the former has been retrofitted, the latter has nothing at all.

 

[andyb87]

Funny, considering the prontos and 73 plates work, and grimsby managed to get their data uploaded.

SOME Prontos work. So far as I can tell, the 18 plates are fitted but still showing date/time. A frustration is that from Nottingham the first nine miles or so are along Mansfield Road (from by Victoria Bus Station through Sherwood and Daybrook and through the countryside to just before Ravenshead. So, helpfully, one stop is simply called “Mansfield Road”. It’s actually about five miles out and known locally as “Leapool Island” , with a dirty great roundabout in case you are unsure! Another stop is called “Cemetery”. The route passes three cemeteries. Traditionally, pub names were used, so one (timing point) was the Ram Inn at Redhill. I appreciate why pub names are no longer favoured but why call it Henry Street, a little cul de sac rather than “Redhill Road” a major side turning opposite? If the purpose of AV is to help passengers with restricted vision, or lack of local knowledge then surely the announcement needs to clearly reflect an identifiable feature and not require the recipient to possess a detailed geographical knowledge of the route and its stop names before travelling. ( Rant over).

 

[Ozz]

One other thing I noticed whilst in Scotland on one of the electric midland bluebird buses in Falkirk, I think route 2 to the Kelpies, the audio announcement sounded like “Next Stock”…. Even the locals commented on it so I don’t think it was me.

 

[kez19]

I was surprised (happy to be corrected) but using McGills 901/6 to Largs there was no audio/visual announcements (mind you these are the Mercedes buses they have)

 

[Cesarcollie]

Delaine Buses onboard system seems to function pretty well.

301 Saturdays is AD68DBL/KX57BWD working in tandem generally, the former has been retrofitted, the latter has nothing at all.

The deadline for fitting a 68 plate bus was October 25 (in theory, although there is leaway for supply and fitting challenges). The deadline for a 57 plate bus is not until October 26. So why would you spend your cash for zero return any earlier than you need to?

 

[Benjwri]

First West of England had the upstairs next stop screen upside down.
At least it still worked..

Ah I was on that bus last weekend!

The First ones in bath seem very good at getting stuck, and while it seems all of them have the required announcement system they frequently just get stuck and give up, with the screens displaying the next stop as blank, then listing all the route's stops below that but never progressing.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Delaine Buses onboard system seems to function pretty well.

301 Saturdays is AD68DBL/KX57BWD working in tandem generally, the former has been retrofitted, the latter has nothing at all.

Seen blands has fitted their evoras up too. Seems to be everyone in lincolnshire complying bar PC Coaches of Lincoln and Stagecoach.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Nov 2025 ==

SOME Prontos work. So far as I can tell, the 18 plates are fitted but still showing date/time. A frustration is that from Nottingham the first nine miles or so are along Mansfield Road (from by Victoria Bus Station through Sherwood and Daybrook and through the countryside to just before Ravenshead. So, helpfully, one stop is simply called “Mansfield Road”. It’s actually about five miles out and known locally as “Leapool Island” , with a dirty great roundabout in case you are unsure! Another stop is called “Cemetery”. The route passes three cemeteries. Traditionally, pub names were used, so one (timing point) was the Ram Inn at Redhill. I appreciate why pub names are no longer favoured but why call it Henry Street, a little cul de sac rather than “Redhill Road” a major side turning opposite? If the purpose of AV is to help passengers with restricted vision, or lack of local knowledge then surely the announcement needs to clearly reflect an identifiable feature and not require the recipient to possess a detailed geographical knowledge of the route and its stop names before travelling. ( Rant over).

In Grimsby it's "Street Name/Stop"
View attachment IMG_1309.mov

 

[geoffk]

Still no progress with Stagecoach South-West. One of their 74-plate Optares, which arrived new with audio-visual information, was noted in Exeter yesterday with the on-board screen showing just the route number and destination, date and time.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Still no progress with Stagecoach South-West. One of their 74-plate Optares, which arrived new with audio-visual information, was noted in Exeter yesterday with the on-board screen showing just the route number and destination, date and time.

Usually a problem with the gps antennas if that’s happening.

 

[Surreyman]

Travelled on a brand new Volvo Safeguard bus the other day (75 reg, only in service 2 weeks), Audio/Visual screen fitted, had a visual display of route number, destination, date and time. But the centre of the screen permanently displayed "McKenna", no visual next stop, no audio announcements.
Its obviously been supplied with all the 'Tech' - no idea whether detail programming not available or driver 'disabled' it?
Before anyone says I am 'bashing' Safeguard, let me say I think they are one of the best operators in South east England.
Should point out that Stagecoach South and Compass bus are worse, either lacking screens or not always fully utilising.
To have every Service bus in UK compliant by end of next September is laughable, simply isn't going to happen.
I don't think the powers that be have any intention of trying to enforce. Very badly thought out Government policy.