BUS users across the county can continue to view live service updates when waiting at a stop.

Hampshire County Council has agreed new contract arrangements to maintain the equipment needed for this.

It will also be updated with the latest technology to continually improve the system for the benefit of passengers.

The decision to agree to a four-year procurement framework was made by Cllr Russell Oppenheimer, the council's Executive Member for Highway Operations.

He said: “Approving the move to a new framework will ensure that Hampshire’s bus users can continue to benefit from accurate travel information, including last minute timetable changes at the bus stop - keeping them informed about their journeys, providing reassurance and helping to support passengers’ safety.

"Implementation of a new framework, from August 2021, will also complement our work relating to the National Bus Strategy, which aims to make public transport services an essential, attractive and commercially sustainable form of transport for Hampshire residents.”

Over the past 18 years, since Real Time Passenger Information was first deployed in Hampshire, the system has expanded to handle direct links from bus operators’ own tracking systems.

These direct links provide data for the central system to calculate and relay bus arrival times to over 500 electronic displays located at bus stations, bus stops, and train stations with bus service connections.

The system also connects with other transport systems to give live train service on-time and disruption information, as well as communicating local data to National Public Transport Information and other public transport journey planning websites and apps – an aspect that also benefits visitors to the county, travelling by public transport.

The new framework will also enable the participating, neighbouring authorities of Dorset County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and West Sussex County.