Bosses put brakes on early buses with warning system

Published on Friday 27 August 2010 17:19

BUS bosses have installed a warning buzzer into every one of their vehicles after being fined and criticised for services running early.

&#149 Drivers will get an audible warning and see a message if they're early

Last month Lothian Buses received a 10,500 penalty from the Traffic Commissioner after an investigation found one in seven of its services was running ahead of schedule.

Now the council-owned bus firm has installed new technology which displays a message telling drivers: "Slow down, you're early" as well as sounding a warning buzzer.

Alan Black, Lothian Buses' operational control manager, said: "The system upgrade to include the audible alert and messaging was relatively straightforward and so far has been working very well.

"We have had full co-operation from drivers and union officials, who think the installation is a great tool to enable them to provide the highest level of service punctuality and reliability for our passengers in Edinburgh and the Lothians."

The new system is activated if a driver is running more than a minute early, triggering the alert. If the vehicle continues to run early, a second alert sounds and the message: "Wait your time, you're early" is triggered.

The system has been developed in conjunction with INEO, the French real-time passenger information specialist company.

Last month traffic commissioner Joan Aitken fined Lothian Buses and said the firm had little excuse for services running early.

She said: "All bus operators know that punctuality and reliability are what the customers need. They need to know that the bus will turn up when expected.

"In the current case what stood out was the number of early runnings - for whilst late running can be caused by congestion, roadworks or other disruption there rarely is an excuse for early running."

The monitoring exercise that led to the fine was carried out after just one complaint was received about the bus company.

Between February 17 and March 1 inspectors monitored the number 45, which runs between Riccarton Campus and Hanover Street, the 27 from Hunter's Tryst to Silverknowes, the 4 from Hillend to Asda at the Jewel and the 16 from West Garth Avenue to Silverknowes.

Sources close to the firm had blamed the tram works after the bus company put more slack in its timetables only for much of the roadworks to be taken away due to an ongoing dispute between tram firm TIE and its contractor.