BUS operator Stagecoach has launched a new app which will make bus journeys easier for passengers, but has warned that urgent action is needed on worsening road congestion if the bus passengers are to get the full benefit of the new technology.

Traffic congestion can be a significant factor in causing delays to Stagecoach’s services. An average week sees delays to some 15 to 20 bus journeys per day out of a total of more than 150, approximately 15 per cent.

The new Stagecoach app, which is available free of charge for Apple and Android mobile phones, helps users find out information on journey length and available fare options.

Passengers can access live running times via their smartphone to check the status of their journey before catching the bus.

In addition, the app enables customers to pinpoint their location during their journey, helping them determine where they are on the route at any one time, how far they are from their destination and when to get off the bus.

“What our new app can’t do is solve the growing problem of road congestion. We need local authorities to take action because faster and more reliable bus journeys, fewer cars, and less pollution is better for everyone in our communities,” said Gordon Frost, operations director for Stagecoach South.