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Tuesday, May 06, 2008 :
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Bus stops to display arrival times
THE frustration that can come with waiting at bus stops for services that never seem on time may soon be a thing of the past for Dubliners.
Dublin Bus confirmed yesterday that it has signed a deal for a system which will enable passengers at bus stops to obtain real-time information about service times.
The contract, signed with Init, a global leader in intelligent transportation systems, will see 1,200 vehicles in the Dublin Bus fleet equipped with on-board computers.
These will provide information to a central control system which will relay constant updates on the expected arrival time of buses to display screens located at 1,000 of its busiest 5,000 bus stops around the city.
Information, based on a global positioning system (GPS), will recalculate a vehicle’s position every 30 seconds. Similar information systems are already in use on Dart and Luas services.
Dublin Bus plans that updates on bus times will also be available to passengers online or via their mobile phone.
The contract with Init is the main element of a 15m project designed to provide the Dublin bus fleet with an automatic vehicle location and control (AVLC) system.
All 1,200 buses will be equipped with GPS equipment to enable Dublin Bus pinpoint the exact location of vehicles while en route.
The company also plans that AVLC data can be transmitted to the traffic section of Dublin City Council to enable buses obtain priority at busy junctions during congestion periods, to help its fleet adhere to timetables.
A spokesman for Dublin Bus said work on developing the new system would begin later this month. However, it is not expected to become fully operational until summer 2010.
The project is designed to help Dublin Bus overcome one of its biggest problems — traffic congestion in the capital, with its knock-on effect on disruption to timetables.
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