Real time information now available for local bus services on displays at bus shelters and on smartphones

In early 2014, Cornwall Council installed a number of new bus shelters at key stops on bus routes in this area. This was possible through funding from central government for improvements to local transport.

At the time of installing the shelters, electronic displays were installed that showed bus timetable times. It was planned that, in due course, the information on bus times would be what as known as real time, i.e. rather than showing the timetable times, the display would show the anticipated arrival time, e.g. 2 minutes, 5 minutes, due etc.

It has taken longer than anticipated for the bus companies to install the necessary equipment on all of their vehicles which would enable the informaiton to be provided and also the controlling system in the Council had to be installed. These systems are now operating successfully which means that real time information is now available for all the buses running in this area. The anticipated arrival times are being displayed at those stops with the necessary equipment.

In addition, the information is available for all stops, including those without the shelters and displays, through use of mobile phone applications. There are two apps that provide the information: First Bus app, and Cornwall Council app. Smartphone users should go to the App Store on their iPhone or to the Android app store on their Android phone and search for "First Bus" or "Cornwall Transport" and then download the appropriate app.

See below screenshots of the apps on an iPhone showing the next bus at Fairfax Road, Tresillian, on a Sunday evening.

July 2017