TfL tests free WiFi on London buses
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a free WiFi trial on two buses operating in the capital.
The trial will see WiFi technology installed on a route 12 bus, operating between Dulwich and Oxford Circus, and a route RV1 bus, which operates between Covent Garden and Tower Hill.
It is hoped that if the trial is successful the sponsors could help fund its extension to further buses in the fleet.
TfL has also begun to trial two further pieces of technology in the form of an upper deck seat indicator and enhanced passenger information screens.
The new technology, which analyses information from the onboard CCTV system, displays seat availability on a screen at the base of the stairs.
Simon Reed, TfL's head of technical services group, said: "London buses have always led the way with new technology on its network, benefiting the millions of passengers who make the most of the extensive network every day. Innovation is a key theme of the Year of the Bus and we have worked with our suppliers to find new and innovative ways to further improve the experience of our passengers. These trials will establish whether this technology provides genuine benefits to people on the move."
Other improvements include the installation of interactive digital screens on Regent Street, delivered in partnership with Clear Channel, and on Eden Street in Kingston, delivered in partnership with JCDecaux. which provide live bus arrival information, alongside real-time updates on other public transport options.