Arriva rolls out AI-based fleet management software across London bus operations
Arriva Group has announced the roll-out of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform across its London bus operations, following a successful pilot phase in collaboration with technology start-up Prospective Labs. The system, called FlowOS Live, is designed to improve operational performance and reduce excess passenger waiting times by up to 20 per cent. The technology will […]
Arriva Group has announced the roll-out of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform across its London bus operations, following a successful pilot phase in collaboration with technology start-up Prospective Labs. The system, called FlowOS Live, is designed to improve operational performance and reduce excess passenger waiting times by up to 20 per cent.
The technology will be deployed progressively across all of Arriva’s London control rooms, with full implementation expected by 2026.
Arriva to pilot AI in London
The software uses GPS data and vehicle telematics to create a live digital model of each bus route. Within this virtual environment, it can simulate thousands of operating scenarios per second to determine the most effective set of control instructions for regulating headways and mitigating the impact of congestion or service disruption. The system can adjust departure times, manage driver and vehicle changeovers, and support service controllers in maintaining even intervals between buses.
By automating routine administrative and reporting tasks, FlowOS Live also allows control room teams to focus more on service performance.
The investment complements Arriva’s ongoing electrification programme in the capital, supporting the Mayor of London’s target for a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030.
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.”
Pete Ferguson, CEO at Prospective.io, the company behind FlowOS Live, said: “We’re thrilled that Arriva is rolling out FlowOS Live across their operations. The Arriva team has been highly committed to the pilot process, thoroughly testing the capabilities and impact of FlowOS Live on the road in a wide range of network conditions and making sure the system really works for their operations on a practical day to day basis. We’re excited to work with the whole team to roll out FlowOS Live and to go even further to help them deliver better and better services for bus passengers in London.”
