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

  • Benefits of investment in ITS technologies
    October 19, 2012
    What price can be put on the value of a life? How much should be spent on preventing untimely deaths? Difficult questions such as these help to put the comparatively small costs of ITS systems into context. While monetary analysis may seem cold and inhumane in consideration of road casualties, death and costly clear-up are often the stark reality transportation authorities are dealing with. This issue of ITS International contains numerous examples of large benefits to be gained from relatively modest inves
  • Transport for London and Cubic scoop another major ticketing award
    October 9, 2015
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) and Transport for London (TfL)’s contactless bankcard system have been awarded the Most Innovative Transport Project prize at the recent National Transport Awards, the seventh major award this year for Cubic and TfL’s contactless system. Launched in 2012, the contactless bankcard system was extended in 2014 to cover London’s entire transit network – including Tube, rail, bus and tram services. Since the introduction of the contactless payment scheme, more than 180 milli
  • Communications for cooperative infrastructures and safety
    February 2, 2012
    Scott Andrews of Cogenia Partners, LLC details the findings of the VII Proof Of Concept work carried out to verify the effectiveness of 5.9GHz-based communication for future US cooperative infrastructures
  • Investment boost for Canada’s weather warning systems
    August 5, 2013
    David Crawford reviews national and regional initiatives to boost Canada’s weather forecasting. Over the next five years Canada’s national weather services are due to benefit from a CAN$248 million injection of funding into the Environment Canada (EC) department to deliver timelier and more accurate weather warnings and forecasts for users including travellers and transport operators. The scheme, set out in the country’s 2013 Economic Action Plan, is to revitalise the services with new investments in federa