This is the layout of it
8 of the bus bays opened today, once stage 2 is completed there will be 16.
There is a video and some pictures on Stuff
It is heavily reliant on software, mostly because of the sawtooth layout. In fact the opening was delayed a week because of problems with the software
When a bus arrives it drives around the around about and waits, there is a screen that tells it which of the bays it is to go to. Passengers inside are also told via screens and a computer text-to-speech female UK voice (which is far from perfect with pronunciation). The bus drives into the bay and the doors open and passengers can board and alight. There is also a door at the front where the bike racks on the front of the busses can be accessed.
Once the bus closes its doors, the sliding doors into the building close as well. The computer system then tells the driver via a screen at the front of the bus bay what to do, when its safe to reverse etc. There is also an LCD which has a view from a camera from way far back so the bus can see where it is and what's around it. Note there are only busses and no people in this area.
This is all automated by the software, Id hate to think what would happen if the software went down!
Connexionz, A Christchurch company developed the software system. They are also the ones in charge of the Real time info systems the christchurch bus system has used for many years.
Some bus drivers are still struggling with getting used to it and all the systems
Anyway, I think it's very cool although a few improvements could be made. It's definitely better than the cold outdoor one we had before!
Has anyone in christchurch used this? Thoughts?
Here are some other pictures, Some of which were taken during driver training before it opened. These pictures are from metroinfo's facebook page
Here are some pictures I took myself today.
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