[AY] Optare Spectra's Next Stop Info System

[jackh]

When both batches of the Optare Spectras were specifically used on the 110, 202/203 and X33 routes. The next stop information systems were used on these routes with the woman announcing the following:

• The next stop
  
• When arrive at stop and doors openned, the stop would be announced
  
• A speaker on the outside of the bus by the doors would say "Service X to Destination"
  

The information would also scroll along the LED displays on both decks of the Spectras.

Could the next stop system only be used on the routes listed above? Would the driver have to programme in route details at the terminus for the system to work during that particular journey on the service?

If the answer to the first question is yes, why hasn't the system been updated to relay next stop information to passengers on the 268, 443/444 routes which the Spectras are now usually used on?

Last of all, why were the Optare Spectras only fitted with the system and the subsequent B7TL orders between both batches of Spectras didn't have the system installed?

[olympian]

If this helps i was told that the Arriva ticket machines that had a orange piece of paper stuck on the back of it where the ones used on the spectra's as they had some sort of gprs fitted to them and it worked with the modems that the driver had, so when the bus was close to the stop the gprs would pick up a signal and and with the machine and drivers modem it would announce the stop. It was along time ago when i was told but it works something like that, but a few times i had got on at Dewsbury on the 201,2,3 or 281 (when the driver took it to the depot for some reason) or when the 129 used to go along mill street east, the bus used to announce "Arriva Dewsbury bus depot". When the buses were parked up out side the depot i used to scroll it as well

[jackh]

That's interesting to see how it worked. I was just wondering as when the original batch of Optare Spectras entered service back in 1999. Real Time Bus Info technology wasn't readily available as it is today.

Just thinking a bit more about it, I could answer my own question about why the Optare Spectras were the only buses to have these screens fitted. This was due to them being used on the 110 which is the cream of Arriva Yorkshire bus routes so were more likely to use such technology on a premiere route than on other routes.
I wondered why they didn't install some LCD televisions on the Darwens like those on Transdev's 36 which shows the next stop along with advertising their other services and ticket options. They could of had BBC News24 showing on them like the Scania Artics do in the Cardiff Bus fleet. This could be another "wow" factor to push the service to commuters.

However, when Burnley & Pendle had their Witch Way Gemini on display in Burnley, I asked why they never put the TVs into them like their sister 36s. They answered that research and customer feedback showed that passengers really didn't acknowledge their existence.

[olympian]

The system still works on them buses but the ticket machines have been moved around different buses and they just need programing and its the same for the side and and back destinations screens its not that they don't work they are not programed in. But the reason why they didn't get them on the darwens could be,

budget to the new buses
time to program them in
who is the manager at the time when the the batch is ordered if they thin its a good idea to have them
change of marketing scheme
or most people find them annoying announcing a stop every 30 seconds

I can try and find out why they dident have it put in.

[olympian]

I have asks why the don't get buses with the next stop info system and it seems to be reliability problems.