The Mystery of the Disappearing Buses
Update: Stagecoach have adjusted their systems to interface, but…
See our readers’ comments. And add your own.
Time to implement Bus Open Data. Click to read more.Where should Cambridgeshire County Council instal more? Click to read more.
The story so far…
One of the commonest complaints which we receive is about ‘vanishing’ buses. Jim Chisholm’s recent tweet is a good example.
Waited over 30 mins for No7 bus with sign just giving TT times but no arrivals. Eventually DROVE to Addenbrooke’s as outpatients appointment. We used to have a bus every 10 mins. Without an effective bus service to necklace villages, local roads will be blocked by private cars. https://t.co/8eegf6oPJi
— Jim Chisholm (@Chisholm4Trail) 7 November 2018
The good news is that improvements are on their way.
The problem arises with the passenger information displays at bus stops, and the linked MyBusTrip app for smartphones and tablets.
Download MyBusTrip for iOS here. Download MyBusTrip for Android OS here.
Explainer
The system, run by contractors, Vix Technology, supplies bus time information for a consortium of local authorities – Cambridgeshire County Council, Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Peterborough City Council. It is dependent upon information supplied from private bus operators, the largest of which is Stagecoach East.
This information is in two related forms – a timetable database, supplied to Vix Technology, and the bus driver’s duty logged into the (location-tracking) ticket machine which enables Vix to identify that bus as operating that section of the timetable.
Most of the displays are of predicted arrival times – ‘Real-Time Passenger Information’.
How does RTPI work?
The bus is fitted with a tracking device in order for the RTPI system to know where it is. The system calculates how long it will take to arrive at each of the stops along the bus’s route. Using satellite technology the system then communicates the bus information to a display at the bus stop. The display shows when the bus is due to arrive.
However, where the system has not detected a bus in operation, the timetabled departure is currently displayed.
As Jim noted: “… sign just giving TT times but no arrivals.”
When no bus is detected, there may be a fault in the system, or the bus may not yet have left the depôt to enter service.
The most common reason, however, is that the bus has been cancelled (possibly owing to driver shortage, or a breakdown). The unfortunate waiting passengers will see a 10:15 departure displayed. When 10:16 arrives the advertised departure disappears.
Another cause of errors is when buses are diverted because the road is closed (perhaps blocked by a road traffic accident). Buses will be detected approaching the diversionary route; the display will show their imminent arrival. Currently, the ‘stop suspended’ display depends on a telephone call from the bus operator.
On Wednesday 7 November 2018, two of Cambridge Area Bus Users’ Executive Committee, together with Mike Sargeant, City Councillor for West Chesterton, and Lucy Nethsingha, Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Newnham, met with two of the Cambridgeshire County Council’s Passenger Information team.
“The latest update on Service Cancellation is that all the Local Authorities in [the] consortium are ready to go and are now waiting for Stagecoach Group’s IT department to allow software update/connection. All operators and Local Authorities agreed on the way that cancellation will be displayed on the screens and Stagecoach Group is happy with it, especially considering that all costs are being covered by the consortium.
“All displays and software at the Council end [have been] upgraded and [we are] just waiting for Stagecoach Group to sign it off and agree dates for installations on their end. Basically a different feed is needed to send cancellations for displays than just the real time information.”
This should mean improved (real RTPI) accuracy for the display boards and the MyBusTrip app.
Cancelled journeys will still show on the electronic screen, with a message CANCELLED next to service number.
Cambridge Area Bus Users Executive Committee would like to put on record our thanks to the Cambridgeshire County Council Passenger Information Team, for working on these improvements.
Come on Stagecoach – now it’s time to do your bit!
Councillor Mike Sargeant, CambridgeCity Councillor for West Chesterton, reports:
I spoke to Andy Campbell last night [26/11/18] and he was not aware of the software improvement and that the ball was in Stagecoach’s court.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Passenger Information team confirmed that Campbell will be with County Officers on Friday [30/11/18], that this matter is on the agenda, and that the county’s contractors, Vix Technology, are liaising with Stagecoach Group to set the dates for necessary works.
Update 05/03/19
We understand, that, in connection with this development – removing cancelled buses from the electronic information displays at bus-stops and on the MyBusTrip app – Cambridgeshire County Council’s contractors, VIX were chasing Stagecoach for a year; that there were issues within Stagecoach’s Project team, including redundancies; and that, whilst Stagecoach have now signed off the software upgrades, timescales for implementation are March/April 2019 plus testing phase.
Do Stagecoach East understand that waiting for a bus that doesn’t exist will put people off using buses and get them back into their cars? A lack of prompt action to bring the most accurate, most up-to-date information can cut ridership.
This is bad for those reliant on buses, for congestion and air pollution. Will it not also cut Stagecoach East’s profits, and have repetitional damage?
Time for new Managing Director, Michelle Hargreaves to get a grip on this. And time for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Mayor James Palmer to request an urgent meeting. Former MD, Andy Campbell made a strong case against Mayor Palmer exercising his devolved powers of bus franchising under the Bus Services Act 2017. If Stagecoach East want to work in partnership with local authorities, they must do their bit. Urgently.
Mostly sorted, but…
Update 16/05/19
Stagecoach have adjusted their systems to interface, with the Vix database, so that cancelled services will not show on RTPI displays, implying that most RTPI issues have now been resolved, although failings can still take place through individual bus ticket machines not being correctly interfaced and through human error.
Stagecoach told us that they track their own services in order to log timekeeping but use a different interface. They are of the opinion that the Vix algorithm for predicted arrival needs improvement.
Where should Cambridgeshire County Council instal more?
There is some limited funding for new Real Time Passenger Information displays at additional bus stops. Cambridge Area Bus Users were contacted for advice on where they might provide the greatest benefit.
I am working on Real Time Passenger Information Project across Cambridgeshire. I was wondering if you would be able to provide a list of some sort that would indicate bus stops in Cambridge, that you believe would benefit a lot from RTPI displays?
Of course it would be amazing to upgrade all bus stops, but that is just not feasible due to our funding restrictions. However, I thought that I would get in touch with you to see what is the demand, in which areas of Cambridge rather than guesting and planning something that people may not benefit from.
Zaneta, Real Time Passenger Information Project Officer
We couldn’t provide a comprehensive list, but you could.
Get in touch, by email, to tell us what you think, and we will pass on your suggestions.
But do make sure that you provide clear information on which stop you mean.
- Stop name and location
- Bus service(s) using the stop and operator
- Towards (destination)
For example…
- Strangeways Road, Queen Edith’s Way
- Stagecoach citi 1
- Towards Addenbrooke’s
Additionally, you could give your reasons for this being a priority.
Bus open Data
We think that the time for the widespread adoption of Bus Open Data, is overdue.
The aim of bus open data is to provide greater convenience for travellers and to facilitate bus use. This will deliver benefits to operators, who have seen falling demand in some areas over recent years. It will also help local authorities with planning of public transport provision, and enable new business models and innovation by opening data up to anyone who needs it. This includes app developers, who can develop products for passengers to help with journey planning.
The Government is working with industry to pursue open data. A key part of this is the Bus Services Act, which came into force in April 2017. This enables Government to set legislation which will require information from all bus operators on timetables, fares and routes.
The way we travel is undergoing profound changes. On-demand services and real-time journey planners are empowering consumers to make the best choices for their needs and circumstances, saving them time, hassle and money. This is being enabled by open data – data that is available to everyone to access, use and share.
Read more about Bus Open Data. (PDF 1.4MB)
In the longer run, the DfT expect open data to enable the full range of transport services to be fully integrated, through ‘mobility as a service’, allowing seamless payment and booking, and greater choice and convenience. Bus services will need to feature in this transport future. They already play an important part in the transport system, providing access to services in local communities, and offering economic, environmental and social benefits.
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