A major plan to put timetable and route information at every bus stop and interchange in the West Midlands is set to be approved by councillors on the Passenger Transport Authority.

The plan complements the popular Traveline telephone service, and the current roll out of Real Time information displays at bus shelters on key routes.  At main interchanges, the improved information would also help passengers find their way and make connections with other forms of public transport.

Eventually councillors on the PTA want all bus, train and Metro services to become part of a comprehensive “Network West Midlands” to rival similar networks in Paris and London.

Centro plans a £7m programme to roll out the new information during the next three years.  The finished project would also involve recognisable ‘network identifiers’ at bus and rail stations, Midland Metro stops and on tickets, signs and vehicles. The cost of on going maintenance of the information will be shared amongst operators.

“This is a major piece of work to get many more people using public transport,” says PTA Chairman Cllr Gary Clarke.  “It will add to our campaign to cut congestion in the West Midlands and make it so much easier for everyone to get about.  Our goal is for passengers to be offered a truly integrated transport system, with simpler ticketing and easy to use information to make finding your way about the network as easy as possible.”

Research showed that currently people didn’t perceive there to be a real network of public transport services, even though there is comprehensive coverage of the West Midlands by a range of bus and train companies.  It also showed that the lack of passenger information meant both users and non-users of public transport often lacked the confidence or knowledge to use more routes.

“Centro has comprehensively reviewed current information provision and developed a whole new suite of passenger information and signage, including a network map of all public transport, which links the West Midlands together as a system,” councillors are told in a report to the PTA Transport Strategy Committee (5 September).  “This information suite will be rolled out across bus station, at bus, rail and metro interchanges, at travel centres, in shelters, and on new bus stops being installed across the conurbation, and complements the Real Time Information programme,” the report says.