Centrad, one of the UK’s leading providers of vehicle CCTV and video telematics solutions, has launched an innovative automatic passenger counter camera designed specifically for the bus and coach industry, called CenCount.
CenCount has been launched to help bus and coach operators enhance their services by providing real-time passenger data. By accurately tracking and monitoring passenger flow, it enables operators to make data-driven decisions on demand, optimising route planning and scheduling to improve efficiency and service reliability.
Centrad’s automatic passenger counter camera is tipped to be crucial for operators in not only making better use of their fleet, but to also generate significant cost savings.
Through ensuring fleet resources are used efficiently, operators can also significantly reduce fuel consumption, which can contribute to their sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions.
Its launch comes at a time where the need for greater efficiency in public transport has never been more pressing.
Automatic passenger counter cameras provide bus and coach operators with precise, real-time data on passenger movements, eliminating the need for manual counting. This enhanced level of accuracy helps reduce errors and ensures operators have reliable footfall statistics to inform decision-making.
Its adoption will not only assist operators in reducing unnecessary fuel and maintenance costs but through accessing real-time and historical data it can also prevent overcrowding by adjusting services as needed, contributing to a smoother, more comfortable journey for passengers.
By ensuring that capacity aligns with demand, its use will also mean operators no longer need to send vehicles on unnecessary trips. Knowing which routes are busiest will enable operators to deploy vehicles and staff more effectively, avoiding over-servicing or under-servicing certain areas.
With fewer unnecessary trips, vehicle wear and tear is minimised, leading to lower maintenance expenses and extended fleet lifespan.
CenCount’s advanced data collection capabilities enable operators to cross-reference passenger counts with ticket sales, effectively identifying discrepancies such as fare evasion. By eliminating the need for manual counting, errors can similarly be reduced.
Its Managing Director Geoff Cross, was himself a bus operator prior to the formation of Centrad, having founded Birmingham-based Central Buses in 2003 before its sale to Rotala PLC in 2018.
This industry experience has provided the Centrad a unique understanding of the day-to-day challenges operators face, allowing the company to develop solutions that directly address their needs.
Geoff Cross commented: “We are delighted to bring to market an innovative solution which provides bus and coach operators with real-time insights into passenger numbers, enabling them to optimise route planning and to give them real-time data to make informed decisions about how best to deploy their fleet on a day-to-day basis.
“Beyond optimising fleet utilisation, CenCount delivers a host of additional benefits that can have a real impact in improving service levels, helping to identify fare discrepancies, improve resource allocation for staffing and budgeting, and enhance the overall passenger experience by preventing overcrowding – which can ultimately lead to a poor passenger experience. Also, by reducing emissions and unnecessary vehicle wear, it can also make a positive and tangible contribution to helping operators in meeting their sustainability goals.
“With greater pressure on bus and coach operators to maximise the adeptness of their service, while keeping ever-growing overheads under control, solutions like CenCount will become increasingly essential.”
