City of Edinburgh Council has unveiled an intelligent management system at Edinburgh Bus Station, which aims to improve the passenger experience for those travelling to and from Scotland’s capital.
The management platform features real-time arrival and departure information on intelligent display screens throughout the station, along with live updates on disruption, delays and events.
The system includes a bus reversing facility, helping to manage departures from the station more effectively and safely, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to automatically log the arrival and departure of every bus in the station.
At the centre of the platform is a Content Management System combining live bus location data with scheduled information to provide accurate real time passenger information. This is distributed to displays inside and outside the station, as well as to Traveline Scotland, neighbouring local authorities, bus operators and local business parks.
Larger displays for people with visual impairments are also part of the upgrades. These connect via Bluetooth to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) React smart device app to read out departures, and multiple languages on some screens.
Additionally, interactive ‘wayfinding’ signage has been installed to help users plan their onward journeys, with routes, travel updates and tourist information.
On Tuesday [08 March], transport and environment convener Cllr Lesley Macinnes was given a tour of the improvements at the station, where more than 9,000 bus and coach services pass through every month, departing to destinations across Scotland and the UK.
Macinnes said: “There is no doubt the new management system at Edinburgh Bus Station will transform the experience for anyone travelling through it. Not only is journey information much clearer and more accessible, but upgrades will really help people making onward trips around Edinburgh.
“It’s really fascinating to see the difference the improvements are making behind the scenes, managing the bus station more effectively, supporting safer departures and monitoring performance. By delivering a truly integrated, efficient service, these changes make travel by bus an attractive choice, which is central to our net zero target.”
Work to upgrade the city’s 400 on-street real time passenger information signs at bus stops, including the addition of more signs, will also begin this year, as part of the same contract. The main contractor delivering the improvements is Journeo.
