Media Release: Shane Rattenbury MLA, 15 July 2013
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today announced the commencement of works to install ‘real time passenger information’ infrastructure at bus stations and major bus stops across Canberra. This will allow live testing of the system to begin will full roll expected to be complete by December.
The real time passenger information system, which will be known as ‘NXTBUS’, will track ACTION buses and provide live information about arrival times via digital displays installed at bus stations, online, smartphones, tablets, over the phone and on-bus visual displays.
“The real time information system – NXTBUS – is an exciting development for Canberra’s public transport system. It will make catching an ACTION bus more convenient and change the way people use public transport in Canberra,” said Mr Rattenbury.
“This modern technology will help grow Canberra’s public transport future, as ACTION buses improve and light rail comes on-line.
“Travelers can easily find out when the next bus arrives and if it is running on time, whether it is bike rack equipped or wheelchair accessible – the live information makes a real difference to the passenger experience.
“We are about to enter a busy but exciting phase in the real time information system project with the installation of display infrastructure at our bus stations progressing in parallel with final testing of the system.
“The City Bus Station will be the first site to have the advance displays installed with work commencing in mid-July. The displays will be a combination of four and eight line double-sided digital displays and once the system is operational will show the route, destination, departure time, platform number and if the bus is equipped with a bike rack or is wheelchair accessible.”
The displays are expected to be progressively rolled out over the next few months. During the testing stage the public can expect to see some on-screen messages as to the status of the system’s roll-out. As part of the initial roll-out, displays will be installed at:
- Cohen Street Bus Station
- Westfield Belconnen Bus Station
- Belconnen Community Bus Station
- City Bus Station
- Woden Bus Station
- Tuggeranong Bus Station
- Barton Bus Station
- Gungahlin Bus Station
- Kippax major bus stop
- City West bus stop on Marcus Clarke Street
- ANU bus stop on Rimmer Street
“Updated signage will also start being installed at the 3,100 bus stops located across Canberra. These signs will provide bus users with the details of how they can access service information once the real-time system is live. Due to the large amount of bus stops, work will commence in October with an aim to have most signs in place when the system is expected to go live in December,” said Mr Rattenbury.
“A mini fleet trial of the system is scheduled to commence early next month to test on-bus equipment, passenger information displays and back-to-base communication systems. This will help iron out any issues prior to the expected launch of NXTBUS in December. Work has commenced on installing equipment on 30 buses in preparation for the trial. This work will happen at night so as to not impact on buses on the road,” Mr Rattenbury said.
The real time project is being delivered by Trapeze who has a proven track record in delivering real time systems around the world including the award-winning iBus project in London.
This page was last updated on 13 August 2022
