33 digital bus screens hailed as timely move
Travel info signs installed
High-tech digital displays are revolutionising bus travel in Perthshire.
Passengers in the Carse of Gowrie and between Blairgowrie and Dundee no longer need to wonder whether or not they have a missed a bus and when the next one is due.
Perth and Kinross Council has received a sixfigure sum to provide bus stops with 33 new digital information screens and upgrade five existing signs.
The digital displays let travellers know if they have missed a bus and when the next buses are due with up-to-date real time information.
Carse of Gowrie Labour councillor Alasdair Bailey shared an image of the brand new display at the Meadowview Drive bus stop in Inchture on social media and was overwhelmed by the positive response it got.
He told the PA: “I’m really pleased to see these signs going up because there’s nothing worse than arriving at the bus stop not knowing whether you’ve already missed the bus.
“Or worse, if a bus is late then it’s really reassuring if you can see real-time information about how late it is.
“Whilst the bus routes and timetables are far from perfect, at least this information will allow people to know where they’re at with the bus and remove much of the uncertainty of using them.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said the funding for the upgrade came from Transport Scotland.
The PKC spokesperson explained: “The new real time passenger information displays in the Carse of Gowrie are part of a Transport Scotland-funded project to support the use of public transport and the introduction of a low emission zone in Dundee.
“Perth and Kinross Council received £328,000 to upgrade bus stop infrastructure and provide real time information along two routes in Dundee: the Western Corridor through the Carse of Gowrie and the North Western Corridor from Blairgowrie to Dundee.
“Thirty-three new signs are being installed along these routes and five existing signs are being upgraded.
“As well as displaying bus times, the new units also allow us to display additional information for passengers.”