BusTracker rolled out across Lothians

ELECTRONIC timetable signs are to be installed across East and Midlothian for the first time in a bid to boost passenger numbers on less-frequent bus services.

Around £1.5 million will be spent by regional transport body SEStran on the roll-out of the BusTracker system, which comes three years after the signs were first introduced in Edinburgh.

Evidence has shown that people are more likely to use public transport when they know how long they will have to wait. But while buses in the city are frequent, the new signs in the Lothians will assist passengers who sometimes have to wait much longer at bus stops.

SEStran, the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, hopes the same kind of information will eventually be available across the entire region, and will incorporate operators other than Lothian Buses, such as First and Stagecoach.

Chairman Russell Imrie said: "Real-time information systems are among the most immediately and obviously useful innovations in transport information provision.

"By providing constant updates on arrival times for bus services, they put the travelling public back in control of their journeys.

"The passengers know how long the wait will be; whether they have time to go and buy the newspaper or make that telephone call; whether they are running late or in time for appointments. Like most good ideas, it's simple but extremely useful.

"It may prove to be particularly useful in rural areas, where bus services are less frequent and miscalculating a bus arrival time could lead to a long, inconvenient wait.

"SEStran aims to ensure that the same quality of real-time travel information is available to travellers across the partnership area."

However, recent funding changes mean that SEStran does not have direct capital funding and is therefore relying on councils to put up the cash to allow the scheme to spread beyond Edinburgh.

Around 230 of the signs are currently in use in the city, and the majority of buses have been fitted with "automatic vehicle location" technology, which sends a signal via satellite to the signs.

The information is now also available on mobile phones and computers via a real-time BusTracker website.

Until now, the signs, which were beset by problems when first introduced, have been prioritised on key city bus routes, such as Princes Street and Leith Walk.

The next £1m phase in Edinburgh, which will cover three years, will concentrate on Queensferry Road, Silverknowes, Duddingston, Niddrie, Prestonfield, and between the Foot of Leith Walk and the Jewel.

Lothian Buses services 1, 24 and 38 will also benefit from the expansion of the BusTracker network, and the council will introduce other signs elsewhere in the city, using contributions from development firms.

A Lothian Buses spokesman said today: "The BusTracker system in Edinburgh city has been highly successful and is hugely popular with the travelling public.

"Real-time information helps to encourage more people to travel by public transport, so we warmly welcome the fact that East and Midlothian councils are introducing more signs in their areas. This is excellent news for bus passengers."