Live bus departure screens

[Deerfold]

There’s a few times recently where I’ve been waiting for a bus and the countdown screen has been wrong (this is in TFL land btw), in one example it turned up when according to the display it was the fourth bus due and wasn’t due for 8 minutes.

Was that near the start of the route? The system predicts services when they're on their previous trip and stood at the stand, but can't account for services leaving there early.

In another instance I was using the app on my phone, bus was showing as on time, reached the scheduled time and didn’t show up, the app changed from “due” to 29 mins, then it turned up ten minutes later whilst the app was still showing 20 mins.

Which app?

 

[londonbridge]

A was in the middle of the route and B is “London Live Bus Countdown” app-the stop I was at didn’t have a countdown board.

 

[SCH117X]

The screens in Newport's bus stations, which are the responsibility of the City Council, showed withdrawn services for years and became less and less accurate as timetables changed. Apparently the company who used to maintain them went out of business (or withdrew from that type of work) and the Council didn't engage a new contractor, or even switch the signs off.

Nearly a similar issue arose in Harrogate - the displays had been installed by the Borough Council when it control of the towns roads under an agency agreement with the county council. There was then a falling out and the county revoked the agency ageement taking responsibility back and not wanting anything to do with the displays. Transdev intervened and took on the responsibility for them which may remain the case.

 

[noddingdonkey]

A further demonstration of the uselessness of the FirstBus app. "Live" data showing the bus is 8 minutes away with LIVE indication vs the screen at the bus stop showing cancelled. Indefensible.

 

[Man of Kent]

A further demonstration of the uselessness of the FirstBus app. "Live" data showing the bus is 8 minutes away with LIVE indication vs the screen at the bus stop showing cancelled. Indefensible.

If that was the 2240 from Marsden on Friday evening, BusTimes shows that it ran (bus 37086), so it was the stop display that was wrong. As others have said, buses showing available seats are, on balance of probability, actually running.

 

[noddingdonkey]

The whole thing is a farce. As a passenger I shouldn't have to check three different sources and decide which is the most likely to be accurate.

 

[markymark2000]

If that was the 2240 from Marsden on Friday evening, BusTimes shows that it ran (bus 37086), so it was the stop display that was wrong. As others have said, buses showing available seats are, on balance of probability, actually running.

With technology the way it is, we should now all be singing from the same hymn sheat. Updating 1 system should update the apps and, any real time information screens and any other data users using real time including but not limited to Google Maps.

Everything can talk if the companies want them to. Sadly it's effort and God forbid, it may help passengers so no one will do it.

 

[Stan Drews]

With technology the way it is, we should now all be singing from the same hymn sheat. Updating 1 system should update the apps and, any real time information screens and any other data users using real time including but not limited to Google Maps.

Everything can talk if the companies want them to. Sadly it's effort and God forbid, it may help passengers so no one will do it.

Unfortunately the bus operators have little or no control over the third party systems, so whilst they might like them to be easy to update, they are often at the hands of others, who have less desire.