05 Jan 2018, 11:59 pm
#66
(05 Jan 2018, 7:05 pm)ne14ne1 I was on an Gateshead bound service that was diverted via the Tyne Bridge. (It was a 21). Coming down the Bigg Market the NSAs had obviously announced the next stop was High Level Bridge North, however being on diversion and turning left onto Mosley St we never reached High Level Bridge North.
If it had been London, the clever iBus system would have been utilised to announce something on the lines of 'This bus is on diversion, please listen for further announcements'. Not being as intelligent though there was no such information given here, (and I didn't hear my driver announce the diversion either) - not great for blind/visually impaired or people unfamiliar with the route/area. Anyway I take it theres no option for our drivers to play pre-recorded announcements in such circumstances?
Is this because our announcements are linked to the destination selected and will only play recordings for that route?
(So if a bus diverts away from the route it'll just not play anything until the bus rejoins the usual route and the NSAs will suddenly catch up?)
I also wondered what happens when services to Newcastle are terminated early at Gateshead due to congestion in Newcastle etc. Is anything altered then or does the bus continue to announce it's going to Newcastle, or if the driver is aware of the short service before reaching Gateshead, is there Gateshead destination screens available & the relevant NSAs linked for those eventualities?
Just curious. Sorry for the hundred questions. 
As I understand it, a pre-programmed route of NSAs is triggered by GPS signals, so, if the vehicle doesn't reach that location, the NSA will not be triggered.
It is theoretically possible for ALL bus stops throughout the region (and, indeed, the whole of Britain) to be included (much like a standard SatNav) but the current system contains only a linear description of the route and has no facility for diversions (though regular diversions could conceivably be included).
Next generation NSAs maybe? - and work for Dan and his mates.
Having said that,the current system isn't foolproof and gliches can occur with stops being 'missed' - at least initially - with the system catching up later on the journey.
