The Arriva Group has announced an investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology across its London bus network that aims to improve operational performance and journey reliability.
Known as FlowOS Live; the software will be implemented for an eight-week trial and is hoped to provide improvements for passengers by reducing excess wait times by up to 20%.
The software will be rolled out across all of Arriva’s London-based control rooms, and uses vehicle GPS systems, as well as fleet data, to create a digital version of each bus route, which is then used to test the impact of sending out different sets of fleet instructions within a safe, virtual environment.
FlowOS Live is capable of running, according to Arriva Group, thousands of simulations per second to identify the best course of action for optimum fleet efficiency, which, in turn, aims to benefit passenger experience.
The software provides detailed instructions for the regulation of space between vehicles, mitigating the impact of both congestion and network disruptions. The system is also capable of altering departure times and managing the changeover of both drivers and vehicles.
Marcos Hart, Managing Director Arriva UK Bus London, said:This technology is all about delivering the best service to Londoners, using AI insights that support our teams to make the right decisions at the right time. If we can provide more reliable services and improved experiences for customers, we can encourage more people to choose buses as their primary form of transport.
Rollout of FlowOS Live will be completed within London in 2026.
