Changes are being made to bus stops in Greater Manchester that could transform public transport.
New digital information displays have been installed across Manchester and Stockport to provide real-time travel updates to bus passengers. The screens are part of an ongoing trial to explore new ways of giving the real-time tracking.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) launched the six-month pilot scheme in March with the first digital display being installed on Princess Street in Manchester city centre. Since then, another two displays – each with different designs – have been set up at sites near Oxford House on Oxford Road, also in the city centre, and Wellington Road South in Stockport.
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TfGM is working alongside 'three industry-leading suppliers of digital technology to see which display works best for passengers'. This involves testing hardware and software, as well as the ideal placement and layout of the displays, according to TfGM.
The project has also been extended to include QR codes at selected bus stops which, when scanned by passengers, provides access to real-time bus departure information, including described audio information to help make journeys more inclusive and accessible. Customers are being asked to test these services and to give their thoughts in a survey.
Greater Manchester was awarded £1.07bn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement to help pay for the Bee Network. More than £430m has been allocated to improve buses, routes and services, including better provision of real-time information.
Customers and accessibility groups are providing feedback throughout the trial to give a better understanding of customer requirements and expectations. TfGM has been working closely with the NHS to encourage public transport use amongst staff, patients and visitors at hospitals and GP surgeries across the region.
New digital Information displays are now live at Wythenshawe Hospital and also Wigan Royal Infirmary. Real-time bus departure screens at Manchester Royal Infirmary are also going to be installed.
New dedicated webpages have been created to help support patient travel, links to those pages could also be included on patient appointment letters. Sean Dyball, TfGM’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “Since launching the trial earlier this year we’ve received vital feedback from the travelling public which will help us continually improve our services.
“Providing accurate and up-to-date travel information will be crucial in making the Bee Network accessible for everyone, and our long-term ambition is for these live digital displays to be installed at key locations across Greater Manchester.”
