Forum Topic

Countdown - Bus time information.

Whilst I find the train times departure boards at our local rail and tube stations a useful facility via Ealing Today, I wonder if it might be possible to link in to the Countdown signs which are on many bus shelters? The ability see what time the next bus is due even 3 or 4 stops away would be most useful. Anyone have any knowledge?

Rob Russell ● 5513d9 Comments

Not quite as much as you but never thought twice about buying petrol for long journeys.Visiting friends say 150 miles away or more costs a packet. That is if you want to do that regularly.

George Knox ● 5510d

Actually my local company accountant, a thoroughly charming, decent, hardworking and competent man, is pretty elderly himself, though he still drives. He'd have got nowhere in the likes of TfL or Ealing Council - any more than the likes of me would have in my own professional sphere.Re the 6 day war (the 1967 one?) can't say because I wasn't driving then, or at least not paying for the petrol; but I do remember that petrol was of the order of 34p per gallon in the early 1970s before the Yom Kippur return match, when OPEC got into its stride adn proces took a Great Leap Forward. On the other hand what was your salary then? - mine was about £1800 per year.

Chris Veasey ● 5510d

Be interesting to see how many can afford cars in London when not long hence it may cost £100 to fill a tank plus all the parking fees. How long until a fill up costs £150?Was it £3 or £4 to fill a tank after the 6 day war?I have yet to meet an accountant who has an elderly relative.

George Knox ● 5511d

Crude, low tech and reliable is good. So the accountants and technofreaks have taken over even more of the asylum. Yet another reason not to use buses if you've a car or other reasonable alternative.

Chris Veasey ● 5511d

Countdown 1 is being slowly decommissioned. TfL deemed it crude and low tech.But it is reasonably reliable.Already, it has been removed from several key stops and many secondary stops.Countdown 2 is going to be mobile phone based and you will have to pay for it.Someone has also overlooked the common sense advice not to stand at a bus stop flashing a mobile smartphone, which is what this system will require you to do!

Oliver Gregan ● 5511d

Many residents in Horn Lane have been saying that the Countdown information should be on all the bus stops, one can wait ages at the Faraday Road bus stop for instance with absoutely no indication of when the next bus might arrive - then sometimes 2 busses come at the same time!Then we have the wrong information on the Countdown screen at Rosemont Road bus stop. The other day the screen indicated that the next bus will arrive in 10 minutes so I decided to walk home....shortly after I start walking the bus passes by!I have written to TFL in the past regarding the fact that the Countdown screens should be available at bus stops but we are still waiting!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5512d

Hi RobIt seems there are some developments in the pipeline with Countdown:http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/11560.aspxIf Ealing Today can link in to it somehow we will.CheersAnnemarie

Editor ● 5513d

The ability see what time the next bus is due is not just 'most useful' - it is, or should be an essential basic provision at all bus stops and all railway station platforms and concourses, along with adequate (or preferably more than just adequate) waiting shelters and seating. The sparse distribution of countdown displays (and passenger shelters and seating) in this borough as elsewhere is entirely abitrary and random, and shameful. Provision of similar train arival displays is by no means universal; and moreover, many of them that have been installed are not actually used to display the train arrival info to the punters, eg at South Ealing station and elsewhere on the Piccadilly Line.But don't hold your breath for any improvement - the transport providers, and successive Borough Council administrations, have shown over many years they couldn't give a toss. Wonderful marketing for the motor trade - but what about the many punters who can't and never will own or drive cars or have regular access to car travel?

Chris Veasey ● 5513d

That's a great idea

Oliver Gregan ● 5513d