NEW bus shelters are being installed across Salisbury and other parts of Wiltshire to pave the way for the introduction of real-time passenger information.

When it is launched in spring 2004, RTPI will enable bus passengers to see when their bus is due to arrive in 'real time' - a system similar to that used by London Underground.

RTPI and the new shelters form part of a major project to provide better public transport information and encourage more people to use public transport.

More than 170 real time-compatible bus shelters are being installed across south Wiltshire and various other parts of the county.

The shelters will feature real-time displays and will have improved lighting to increase passenger safety.

Many other existing bus shelters will be upgraded to accommodate the real-time displays.

Passengers will initially be able to see an arrival time for their bus on an electronic display, which will change to a minute-by-minute countdown as the bus moves to within 20 minutes of the stop.

In areas where shelters cannot be installed, bus stop flags will give an electronic countdown.

Displays will also give details of whether the bus is easily accessible for wheelchair users and buggies, and visually impaired people will be able to get audio versions of the information at the stops.

The RTPI system will be put in place at more than 200 bus stops county-wide and will cover Salisbury city services - including services to the hospital, railway station and park-and-ride sites.

It will also cover services from Salisbury towards Warminster, Westbury, Trow-bridge and Bath, Pewsey, Bournemouth and Poole, and Southampton.

The project is a partnership between Wiltshire county council, Salisbury district council and the Wilts & Dorset bus company.

Fleur de Rhe Philipe, WCC cabinet member for the environment, transport and economic development, said: "The RTPI system is a major investment in Wiltshire's public transport infrastructure."

Salisbury transportation plan joint committee chair-man Dennis Brown said: "The provision of RTPI is an important aspect of the district council's commitment to improving public transport facilities, making bus shelters safer and improving access to bus information.

"It is an integral part of the intelligent transport system currently being rolled out across the Salisbury transport plan area."

More than 150 Wilts & Dorset buses have already been fitted with technology that uses satellites to locate the bus and produce predicted arrival times at the bus stop. Plans include enabling passengers to access RTPI through the internet and mobile phones.

Wilts & Dorset operations director Andrew Wickham said: "Real time will allow passengers to see exactly when their bus is due, and will enable us to better monitor and manage our schedule and fleet."