Satellites to track London buses

The technology will give more accurate arrival times

Transport for London (TfL) has signed a £120m deal for a new satellite tracking system that will keep check on the city's 8,000 buses.

The technology will mean more accurate, real-time arrival information being sent to every bus-stop.

TfL said it is introducing the system because the current "countdown" method, which relies on roadside beacons, cannot cope with London's 700 routes.

The technology will begin to be rolled out over the next two years.

He added the current countdown technology, which is about 10 years old, cannot cope as the number of passengers has risen from four million and day to six million a day, over the last five years.

TfL has signed a 10-year deal with Siemens for the technology, which is part of its five year, £10bn investment programme.