Bus control systems: some evidence on their effectiveness.

Before and after studies were conducted in Bristol on centralized bus location and control systems. Data have been used to build a computer model of one Bristol route, to establish the potential for improvement and the value of different control strategies. Results show that on this route the reduction in passenger waiting-times achievable with the automatic control system, even in the peak-hour, is insufficient to produce a net community benefit, still less a commercial gain to the bus company.