TfL Ref: FOI-0694-1718

Thank you for your email received on 16 June 2017 requesting information about bus blinds.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you requested. You asked:

Please send me the bus destination blind design guidance, which details the layout of bus blinds used on TfL services, including the font, layout of the ultimate destination and any clarifier text with dimensions, the material to be used, the lighting requirement and any supplier information.

On new vehicles entering the fleet we specify powered front, side and rear displays with the route selection unit in driver’s cab simultaneously controlling front, side and rear displays. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure displays are correctly positioned and coordinated whilst a bus is in service, regardless of the equipment type used.

A suitable method for the driver to identify from the cab seat that the front display is correctly positioned must be provided:

1. All displays in Transport for London’s Classic Johnston font
   
   

    

   
   
   
2. All displays in White font on black background including out of service or any other passenger information
   
   

    

   
   
   
3. All displays to be fully back illuminated by LED type lighting systems and automatically illuminated at all times, positioned at the horizontal centreline of each blind, providing an even distribution of illumination across the full blind area
   
   

    

   
   
   
4. No light illumination gaps should be visible around any point on the displays from the exterior view of the bus
   
   

    

   
   
   
5. No logos, signs or abbreviations are permitted on the display. The approved ultimate and intermediate display wording will be provided against each contract award
   
   

    

   
   
   
6. Where double letters or numbers occur on any display, additional separation space is to be provided to improve identification
   
   

    

   
   
   
7. Blind jockey rollers or other devices must be utilised when necessary to keep blinds taught and as close as possible to the glazing line
   
   

    

   
   
   
8. All displays to have exterior anti vandal impact and anti reflection overlay.

Front Route display to have ultimate destination with single track number in a side by side arrangement:

1. Front visual display to be no smaller than that shown in illustrations below
   
   

    

   
   
   
2. Ultimate destination to be maximum height size available with a % deformation in font size height, where necessary, to accommodate long destination points
   
   

    

   
   
   
3. Ultimate destination sight size of not less than 1160mm width and 330mm height
   
   

    

   
   
   
4. Route number to utilise full depth available from display height, sight size of not less than 450mm width and 330mm height
   
   

    

   
   
   
5. Front destination identification to be viewable from the driver’s cab
   
   

    

   
   
   
6. Blind destination to display ultimate destination only, no intermediates, logos, qualifiers, curtailment points or any other information that is not part of the approved contract award wording.

The nearside route display must have the ultimate destinations and single track number in a side by side arrangement. The route number must be shown to the forward most point of display.

1. Equipment may be a combined single track or split number but either must achieve the dimensions illustrated below
   
   

    

   
   
   
2. Ultimate destination and route number to utilise full first window bay width
   
   

    

   
   
   
3. Side visual display to be no smaller than indicated below
   
   

    

   
   
   
4. Ultimate destination sight size of not less than 687mm width and 210mm height
   
   

    

   
   
   
5. Route number to utilise full depth available from display height, sight size of not less than 270mm width and 210mm height
   
   

    

   
   
   
6. Character centreline height not less than 1200mm and not more than 2500mm from ground at bus ride height. Rear route display to have number identical to the independent front route number display.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Nichols

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London