Translink

TransLink's Next Bus goes real-time

TransLink’s investments in communications technology are bringing benefits for transit customers: more certainty in planning their trips from knowing exactly when a bus will leave a given stop. Next Bus, part of TransLink’s site, https://www.translink.ca, accessible on desktop and mobile.

With real-time Next Bus, a customer can obtain the location of their next bus in a number of ways: using the unique bus stop code – the 5-digit yellow number printed on each bus stop sign, by keying in an intersection, searching by bus route number or even using the GPS on their Smartphone. The system then takes the customer to a street map showing the bus stop and the actual departure times of upcoming buses. Real-time Next Bus also indicates cancelled trips or stops. (At this time, West Vancouver Transit information is not given in real time, as Blue Buses are not yet equipped with GPS.)

Information is received either on a street map or in “Text View”, which uses less data.

Next Bus is not a Smartphone application (app), but a website that can be accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, Android 2.3 Smartphones, iPhones and newer versions of BlackBerry. Users of older BlackBerries (without the touch keyboard) may find the “Text View” function works best.

In the months to come, the Next Bus SMS service will be upgraded to show the real-time departures as well, Google Transit will include the real-time information, and data will be made available to developers to come up with Smartphone apps of their own. 

More information – including tips on how to use the mobile site – can be obtained by calling TransLink Customer Information – 604-953-3333.