Hi-tech timetable on way for Cork bus users

COMMUTERS waiting at the bus stops around Cork and Dublin cities will soon be given updates, by-the-minute, on how soon they can expect to be picked up, thanks to new technology being rolled out by the local authorities and the Department of Transport.

Real Time Passenger Information, RTPI, indicating the expected arrival times for the next three buses arriving will be made available at over 500 bus stops in the two cities, first in Dublin and then in Cork.

The estimated arrival times of buses will be calculated on the Bus Éireann fleet management system. Using GPS it will work out how far the bus is from the stop and calculate how long it will take to cover that distance. That information will then be communicated to the RTPI server based in Dublin City Council and from there the estimation will then be broadcast to each specific bus stop. It is planned that in the future the system will also be able to communication with traffic lights which will then give priority to buses which approach them.

The scheme will be rolled out across Dublin over the course of this year.

In Cork, it is initially planned to put it onto 50 stops including the routes of the number 5 and number 8 buses and for the route to Ballincollig.

The Cork element of the scheme alone will cost €400,000.

Real Time Passenger Information displays are currently used on the Luas network in Dublin.

The system for Bus Eireann is being manufactured by a company in Ennistymon, Co Clare.