Upper deck seat indicator technology trial expanded to additional bus route

Transport for London (TfL) has announced it is to expand the current upper deck seat indicator technology trial to an additional route.

The upper deck seat indicator trial, initially carried out on bus route 141, aims to increase utilisation of the whole bus and make journeys more comfortable. The technology encourages passengers to go upstairs rather than standing on the lower deck, which at the busiest times can prevent other passengers from boarding.

The trial has been extended to route 59 which runs between Kings Cross St Pancras and Streatham Hill via Euston, Russell Square, Holborn, Waterloo, Oval and Brixton. The addition to the Arriva fleet should reduce congestion and provide statistically valid passenger data for installation on a larger scale.

The new equipment, developed by UK mobile digital recording technology company Timespace, analyses information from the on board CCTV system and displays seat availability on the upper deck on a screen at the base of the stairs.  It enables passengers to make an informed choice on whether to use the upper deck and may reduce crowding on the lower deck of the bus.

Simon Reed, TfL’s Head of Technical Services Group, commented on today’s announcement: “We want passengers to benefit from the most cutting edge technology – making their journeys easier and more comfortable. This project builds on a single vehicle trial conducted in 2014 and should provide a practical, clear benefit with clear information at the point of boarding.

“As we expand this trial we will be able to learn more about how it will work on a large scale and what kind of impact it will have on our passenger’s experience.”

Robert Heylen, Managing Director of Timespace Technology Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with TfL on the development and trial of this new technology and hope that it proves beneficial to bus passengers.”