Skip to main content

TfL launches Countdown digital information signs

Following a successful trial in London, Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new Countdown digital sign service, providing a new way to deliver tailored live bus arrival information cheaply and effectively to a range of public locations, such as hospital waiting rooms, schools or shopping centre foyers. The trial demonstrated the signs worked well, delivering clear, easily accessible information about local bus services, utilising existing IT and display equipment in public locations.
June 3, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Following a successful trial in London, 1466 Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new Countdown digital sign service, providing a new way to deliver tailored live bus arrival information cheaply and effectively to a range of public locations, such as hospital waiting rooms, schools or shopping centre foyers.

The trial demonstrated the signs worked well, delivering clear, easily accessible information about local bus services, utilising existing IT and display equipment in public locations.

The technology can be self-installed using existing equipment, enabling it to be delivered at minimal cost.  Organisations are provided with a tailored web link via a dedicated URL that will give information for the bus stop or stops in the immediate vicinity. An electronic map detailing the local area is also displayed, which is especially useful for passengers unfamiliar with the location.

The introduction of the digital signs service compliments the Countdown real time bus information service which was upgraded and relaunched in October 2011.  The service provides live bus arrival information via dot matrix signs at bus stops, the web, smart phones and SMS, and informs around thirteen per cent of all bus journeys every day.

Simon Reed, head of technical services group at London Buses, said: “We hope the new digital sign service will help passengers make the most of London’s extensive bus service.  The service makes use of existing infrastructure that is already in place in many public spaces and can be delivered cheaply and quickly.  It will help our passengers’ access real time bus information away from their local stop which is especially helpful for those who may not have access to the internet or a smart phone.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Bus location system delivers real-time passenger information
    November 28, 2012
    VeriFone Systems has installed its open-architecture vehicle tracking TransitPAY system on more than 1,000 buses serving the Bronx, following the award of a US$8.5 million contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York. The Bronx contract award follows a similar contract in 2011 for the Staten Island fleet component of the MTA Bus Time system, which uses VeriFone on-board systems to generate location data that is communicated wirelessly to the Bus Time server that passengers can acc
  • Mentor MyRide keeps passengers informed
    January 25, 2012
    Mentor Engineering has released its online passenger information system, Mentor MyRide. Developed for transit agencies, it provides passengers with various means of accessing real-time bus location, status and schedule information online using a desktop computer, smart phone or regular mobile phone.
  • Vancouver's metro transport promotes alternatives to driving
    January 26, 2012
    David Crawford looks at Vancouver and the legacy of a Olympic transport success
  • New constellation will add accuracy and security to GNSS services
    December 20, 2013
    With Galileo’s early services scheduled to start next year, Fiammetta Diani is enthusiastic about the opportunities the EU’s GNSS system will offer. Next year will be a very exciting one for Galileo, the EU’s fledgling satellite constellation; additional satellites are scheduled for launch and, as European Commission Vice President Tajani recently announced, early operational services will be starting towards the end of 2014. So it really is ‘all systems go’ as Fiammetta Diani, market development officer in