BUSCO EXAMINED: COMPUTER CONTROL ON A MAJOR LONDON BUS ROUTE

Running buses through the congested roads of central London can lead to problems in reliability and causes bunching. One of the typical routes is the 36 group from the south-eastern suburbs to the north-west at West Kilburn. The whole service, which requires 55 buses to maintain a four minute headway at peak periods, is provided by one garage at Peckham. A vhf radio link provides the basis of the control system with information from transducers relayed by microcomputer to the base. Magnetically encoded number plates are used so that roadside sensors can detect the passage of the bus and provide information on the actual position of the bus and its running time relative to the schedule. If a particular bus is experiencing difficulties, the controller can communicate with the driver via a small display unit in the cab. The bus can then be turned short of the terminus, if it is running very late, and provisions made for any passengers wanting to travel further. Another benefit of the system is that an alarm is incorporated which can give the exact position of the bus to emergency services. As the reliability has improved on route 36, it is hoped to extend the system to other routes. (TRRL)

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Ian Allan Limited

    Terminal House
    Shepperton, Middlesex  England  TW17 8AS
  • Publication Date: 1984-9

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; Photos;
  • Pagination: p. 396-397
  • Serial:
    • BUSES
    • Volume: 36
    • Issue Number: 354
    • Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, Limited
    • ISSN: 0007-6392

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00393291
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM