We are carrying out audits at the moment on our stops to make sure the information is up to date, and free of any damage etc., it is all part of the work that falls within the Marketing Department.
With over 1000 bus stops to look after it’s a big job but one we take a lot of pride in, along with all the flags (which are the signs above the stops and shelters) we also supply the information in the cases whether they are the Yellow ones or the ones attached to the shelter.
We are often asked about the information in the shelters displayed in the electronic displays, and we do supply the information that is passed to them, but if there is an issue at a stop with one of those then we report it back to the Local Authority.
How does it all happen? It’s very clever and the buses are doing all of the hardwork – as they travel around our network area they are ‘talking’ to different points along the way and giving information on where they are; this is then fed back to the electronic displays - allowing the display to countdown in minutes to the arrival of the bus.
RTI showing countdown
We call the system RTI which stands for Real Time Information, sometimes for a number of reasons the buses aren’t able to ‘talk’ with the system and then the RTI reverts to timetable information.
Timetabled information shown in 24 hour clock format
How do you know which is which? It is all in how it is displayed, so if for example the RTI is showing a timetable in the 24 hour clock format, as the picture shows above, then it’s using timetabled information and is not ‘Real Time’ so you may see the journey disappear from the screen, that is because the time for the timetabled bus service has come and gone (but perhaps not the service itself).
A stop showing both Real Time and Timetabled info
If the bus has been able to ‘talk’ and the service is behind timetable the RTI will come up with a delay message and you know the bus is on it’s way even if a little late.
So there you have it, a very simple guide to Real Time Information or RTI which I hope has helped explain how they work so they become even more useful for you.
See you on the buses
Jenni Wilkinson – Head of Marketing