‘yournextbus’, Metro's real-time bus information service, delivered its one millionth text message on Saturday 10 February.

Launched in West Yorkshire in September 2005, yournextbus has proved a massive hit with passengers who are now regularly using the text, WAP and web service to find out exactly when their bus is due.

“Using yournextbus, passengers can find out exactly how many minutes away their bus is and keep their wait at the stop to a minimum,” said Metro Chairman Councillor Stanley King. “People tell us that they value the extra time indoors, whether at home, in the office or socialising with friends, particularly at this time of year.

"The service delivers around 3,500 text messages to passengers each day, and has delivered over 5,000 messages during major traffic disruptions, such as January's gales."

yournextbus uses GPS satellite technology to track the location of buses in West and South Yorkshire and is the largest real-time bus information service outside Greater London. West Yorkshire’s passengers are now also starting to benefit from Metro’s installation of electronic visual displays at key bus stops and shelters.

Comments received by Metro from yournextbus users include:

• "I think the service is a very good idea and I use it a lot."
• "It transforms the process of catching a bus. Congratulations to you all!"
• "The service has made a real difference to my daily commute; I am more likely to use the bus because of it. It is really fantastic."

“By pushing ahead with groundbreaking projects such as yournextbus, and investigating ways to develop other high-tech proposals such as bus rapid transit, tram-trains and smartcard ticketing, Metro is trying to ensure the people of West Yorkshire benefit from a 21st Century public transport system,” said Metro Director General Kieran Preston.

“But we cannot do it on our own,” he continued. ”We need our partners in the bus and train companies, the local councils and perhaps most importantly the Department for Transport, to work with us and provide the funding to be able to make these schemes a success.” 

By texting the unique, eight-digit number displayed at each bus stop, to 63876 which spells out M-E-T-R-O, passengers can use yournextbus to find out the predicted times of the next four buses from that stop. If predicted times are not available, scheduled departure information is displayed.

yournextbus information is also available to WAP phone and Web users at www.wymetro.com.

From Monday 19 February, yournextbus will also be available to bus passengers at stops right across South Yorkshire.