Video: Take a look behind CentreComm, the heart of London’s bus network

CentreComm is Transport for London’s emergency control room based at the Surface Transport and Traffic Operations Centre at Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London. CentreComm’s primary purpose is to provide an emergency control centre for London Buses contracted bus network. It is co-located with the Metropolitan Police’s traffic control Metrocomm and Transport for London’s LSTCC centre which control London’s traffic lights and traffic flow. Should an incident require an emergency response such as, but not limited to, road closures, accidents, robberies, theft, vandalism or assault; CentreComm will send for and activate an emergency response such as calling the emergency services or diverting buses as appropriate.

CentreComm was initially conceived in 1979 and consisted of a mere handful of people equipped with two-way radios and paper records. In 2009 CentreComm celebrated 30 years of assisting London’s bus network. In 2013 they have constant radio contact with all 8500 buses on the network via the iBus radio system. Through GPS fitted to each of London’s Buses they can monitor their location at all times.

CentreComm is in operation 24 hours a day 364 days a year, with Christmas Day being the only day it is closed. For bus drivers, conductors and passenger assistants their services are activated via the iBus system by initiating a code red (emergency) or code blue (information) call. For garage based bus operator staff they are contacted via the telephone or by email.