Metroline is introducing AI-assisted service control software across all of its London bus operations. The FlowOS Live system is designed to improve service reliability, streamline control room processes, and reduce passenger waiting times.
This decision follows a trial at Metroline’s Edgware garage, where the software was tested on high-frequency routes. During the trial, Metroline recorded a reduction in Excess Waiting Time (EWT), a key performance metric monitored by Transport for London (TfL). The company estimates the improvements could save passengers up to 2,000 hours of waiting time each day, across more than 700,000 daily journeys.
FlowOS Live was developed by Prospective.io, and it works by forecasting how each vehicle in a fleet is likely to progress along its route. It then simulates potential service adjustments and recommends control strategies aimed at optimising service intervals and punctuality. These recommendations are designed to assist controllers in making timely, data-driven decisions.
In addition to improving passenger service, the system is intended to reduce the workload of control room staff by automating incident tracking and service disruption logging. This allows personnel to focus on actively managing operations, rather than administrative tasks.
Sean O’Shea, CEO at Metroline London said:Metroline is committed to evolving our service delivery and passenger experience. Embedding the AI-assisted software in our daily operations will not only help us to deliver on these objectives but will also support our vision to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable transport to our communities.
Metroline has entered into a licence agreement to roll out the software at all of its London depots. The deployment will cover over 1,000 high-frequency buses and will also serve as a back-office platform for low-frequency services. Training is being provided to staff to help embed the system and drive further EWT improvements.
Metroline’s parent company, ComfortDelGro, is also now considering the use of similar AI systems across its international operations in Singapore and Australia.
Pete Ferguson, CEO at Prospective.io said:FlowOS Live is used for critical fleet monitoring and decision-making day in day out. As such it’s been essential to build, test and refine the system with close and continuous feedback from control room staff to ensure that the potential of the technology can be realised on the ground. Working closely with Metroline we’ve been able to ensure that the software’s recommendations are effective, and that the overall system works in a practical context, enabling teams to successfully embed AI in their daily work.
The benefits of this technology and key considerations for implementing AI in bus operations were discussed last year at Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham.
