 "1 additional stop is planned to be equipped with a real time display within the next 12 months”   | A few days ago I asked the question "How many bus stops in Plymouth are actually fitted out with some form of Real Time Display?"There were few comments left about congestion in Plymouth but only one stab at a guess with Prodigal Green suggestion "Probably only around 30-40". Well he is not far off the mark: There are currently 68 bus stops within the City fitted with real time information displays. 22 of these displays have been recently fitted and are not yet in use. They will become active within the next few weeks. 1 additional stop is planned to be equipped with a real time display within the next 12 months. Only Plymouth Citybus and First buses are equipped with Real Time equipment.  ©Terry Partridge I must admit I was disappointed at just how low this figure is. Perhaps I was taken in by the promise of a real time information system that would let you know when the next bus was due to arrive. I expected that this display would not be at all the bus stops, but it still seems a very low number. None of the bus stops around our way have any form of RTP. I know there is the sms text service but it still seems that very few bus stops give any indication of the bus stop code needed. Even Derriford Hospital has still not got a working display (unless it has been switched on this last few days)and that is the second busiest bus stop after the City Centre. I just cant help get the feeling that it is all a bit of a disappointment. Another interesting anonymous comment Your question should also say - how many of the stops fitted with real time information actually work. I think you will find it's very few, most only display timetable information if anything. But hey, it's only been in Plymouth for nearly NINE years Has it really been as long as that? I guessed about five or six years? This is a subject I will be coming back to, once I gather some more information! |
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first use the real time to track the buses to catch early running drivers BUT they have found it is not reliable on its own
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the Plymouth system but it seems to me that if the stops only ever show the time the bus is due along with the word "due" it doesn't appear very "real time" even if it is - it looks like (only) a fancy electronic timetable. There are better systems such as in Brighton where the stops show how many minutes until each bus will actually arrive (along with normal paper timetable displays at the stops too). The system works and has been running there for many years. Perhaps it's easier with just one operator?!
ReplyDeleteAt Least you in Plymouth have some, we in Manchester have none!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe information is at basic level useless apart from being as mentioned an electronic timetable. Only a handful of routes will countdown the number of minutes, some show "due", some will show "delay" (delay of what??), others the time and disappear after the set departure. And don't get started on "no buses for 1 hour"!
ReplyDeleteThe SMS system is worse, that only gives you the next timetabled bus.