Bristol awards real time system deal

According to a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on 4 September 2010, the five year contract is for bus passengers in the areas of the four West of England Partnership authorities – Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The council said that Advanced Communications will be responsible for maintaining the system and outlined the expected capabilities of the technology. "Such a system should be capable of at least automatic vehicle location, real time schedule adherence information, provision of real time information via existing and entirely new electronic real time information displays sited at bus stops and key journey origin points," it said. It should also be able to undertake automatic vehicle location through an internet website, text messaging as well as selective vehicle detection at traffic signal controlled junctions. Voice and data communication links between bus drivers and control centres should also be possible. Additionally, Advanced Communications is also responsible for ensuring that the system links to neighbouring real time information technology and provides historical data for analysis.