Trial on to test display of real-time information in buses: LTA

SINGAPORE — New LCD panels on buses showing commuters the stop they are at, and capable of beaming information about other public transport matters such as MRT disruptions and traffic congestion, are being tested out.

The two-month trial started on Thursday (Dec 8) on one single-deck bus plying the service 106 route, which serves housing estates and schools in the Bukit Batok and Commonwealth areas, as well as the commercial and financial districts in on Orchard Road and Shenton Way.

Right now, some buses have basic LED dot-matrix panels showing one-line information: That the bus will be stopping when passengers press the bell, and where the next stop will be.

The new panel will display more information such as the bus service number, the current bus stop and upcoming ones, as well as the end destination, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in its press release on Thursday.

At a later date, the LTA will also test the display of information such as real-time messages on MRT service delay, traffic congestions that may affect the service route, or other public service messages.

The next bus stop will also be announced to help seniors and the visually impaired who use public transport.

The new display panels would tap information from the central fleet management system, which now feeds bus-stop information to the existing LED dot-matrix panels on some buses, the LTA said.

The trial will see the authority optimising the system to incorporate more real-time travel information.

At the inaugural Bus Carnival organised by the LTA in March, two “concept buses” with various features, including such new display panels, were first showcased to the public.

Through the event, the LTA received 22,000 responses from commuters on the different features that they would like to see in public buses, with suggestions to have USB charging ports onboard, for example.

The LTA said that it would add more features, as chosen by the public, in future buses.

It is also inviting feedback for the ongoing trial on bus service 106.

Commuters may do this through the online form at https://www.lta.gov.sg/feedback/.

The LTA will also carry out surveys onboard the bus. 

The feedback is to help the authority understand what commuters would like to see in the new panels before the eventual roll-out.