MUCH-reviled in Wellington, the bus networks recently received long awaited Real Time Information (RTI), which uses GPS tracking to inform passengers about estimated, as opposed to scheduled, times of arrival. Capital Times journalist Melody Thomas kept a diary documenting bus movements on the Island Bay line for one week before, and one week following the implementation of RTI systems.
The good news?  Fewer buses are running late, and those that are, seem to be less so. The bad news? Buses still aren’t running to schedule. Is it too soon to tell if the new system will improve the reliability of bus schedules? Or are the issues within Wellington’s bus network too big to be rectified?
“It’s a very challenging area, but the issues definitely can be resolved,” says Alex Campbell, public transport projects officer at Greater Wellington, who has been involved in the RTI project from the start.
“It’s early days yet. Go Wellington will be looking at data to see where changes should be made,” he says.
Between April 12 and 18, Melody Thomas watched over-filled buses drive past waiting passengers, bus drivers seeming to ignore or misunderstand RTI information, and one instance where the scheduled bus didn’t come at all.
“It is only a scheduled time, a paper timetable doesn’t give you information if there are delays. It is the best intention of when a bus should arrive, but naturally if there’s a power outage or traffic delays the bus can arrive later,” says Campbell.
So far, RTI is proving reliable. Buses may not turn up on schedule, but they are arriving when predicted online and on RTI signs.     
“[Real time information] is not a replacement. Ideally we want schedules to operate as accurately as possible.”
RTI will only help buses to arrive on time if drivers use it properly, yet in these first few weeks a couple of drivers said the screens “didn’t work” and on more than one occasion, the display screens sitting next to drivers were turned down or away from the eyes of the public – in one case the driver couldn’t read the screen, so had no idea if he was running to schedule.
Campbell: “Drivers are a bit more aware and more visible now. Whereas before a customer would complain about a late bus, which would be investigated later, now the dispatchers can see where they are, hold them more accountable, and take action in extreme cases. The beauty of real time is they can radio that driver immediately, and react to problems in real time.”
Wellington buses are co-managed by Go Wellington, which is part of NZ Bus, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Although Campbell at Greater Wellington was helpful, trying to get comprehensive answers from both organisations was difficult; Capital Times was referred to one organization, only to be referred back again.
When NZ Bus head office in Wellington was contacted for comment on driver behaviour, apparently their domain, the receptionist said, “I doubt that anyone will ring you back, why would we comment on bus drivers’ behaviour?”

Before Real Time, Feb 24 – March 2:
• Total buses caught: Ten
• Buses on time (0-3 minutes late): Four
• Number of buses late: Six
• One bus 35 minutes late
• Two buses 8 minutes late
• Three buses 4 minutes late
• Number of buses that didn’t come: One
• Total time spent waiting: 63 minutes

After Real Time, April 12 – April 18:
• Total buses caught: Ten
• Buses on time (0-3 minutes late): Six
• Number of buses late: Four
• One bus 4 minutes late
• One bus 7 minutes late
• One bus 12 minutes late
• One bus 13 minutes late
• Number of buses that didn’t come: One
• Total time spent waiting: 36 minutes