Portsmouth bus passengers to benefit from real-time service information

Credit: Portsmouth City Council - Portsmouth Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson at a bus stop in the city with a real-time information screen.

Over 300 real-time information screens are set to be installed at bus stops throughout Portsmouth, making journeys even easier for passengers.

Thanks to the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), Portsmouth City Council is investing in easier travel for everyone, and the latest improvements will see up to 307 more screens installed at bus stops that feature real-time information about the buses that are due to arrive and how busy they are. This will mean that up to 95% of bus stops in Portsmouth will offer passengers access to key information to help people to have an easier journey.

All of the new screens also have a push button on the bus stop, which can be pressed for passengers to hear the information displayed on the screens, making them more accessible to those with visual impairments.

Screens are being installed in direct response to bus user requests for more real-time information at bus stops in the city, which was highlighted as one of Portsmouth’s residents’ priorities in the BSIP survey.

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Portsmouth’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We often hear requests for clearer information at bus stops, and I’m excited to share that we’re installing screens throughout the city to provide passengers with the details that they need for a hassle-free journey. Our aim is to make bus travel accessible and straightforward for everyone.”

The new screens will be installed in in Summer 2024. There will be two different types of screens installed in Portsmouth, those at bus shelters and pole mounted screens at bus stops without shelters.

Bus stop information screens display an estimated time of arrival for bus services calling at each stop, with a countdown for when the bus will arrive. They use GPS data from detectors installed in each bus to calculate how far away the bus is from the stop and how long the bus will take to arrive. The newly installed screens will also be able to display other information in real time, such as weather reports and news updates.

Improving travel information is a priority to the council’s transport team and this is the latest step in plans to upgrade bus stops and improve the way that people access bus timetable information.