Which are the next bus stops, is there traffic congestion up ahead and what about possible train delays at nearby MRT stations? Such real-time information, which could help commuters plan their journeys, could be part and parcel of every bus trip.

A new display panel providing this info was put on trial by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) from yesterday. It will be an upgrade of the LED dot matrix panels found on some buses, which can display only a single line of text about the next bus stop.

The graphical display being tested has been installed on a single-deck bus deployed on service 106, operated by Tower Transit between Bukit Batok and Shenton Way. Through the two-month trial, LTA said it will gather feedback from commuters on the display, before the "eventual rollout" to other buses, though it did not say when this would take place.

The new panel will display info such as the bus service number, the current bus stop, the upcoming stops, and the end destination.

During a later phase of the pilot, LTA will also test out audio announcements of the upcoming bus stop, which will help the visually impaired and senior citizens. It will also broadcast public service messages, such as about MRT disruptions.

"Such real-time information allows commuters to make more informed decisions on the go," LTA said yesterday.

Commuters gave the new panel the thumbs up. Property manager May Lee, 66, suggested having the estimated arrival times for each bus stop listed on the display panel.

IT professional Neo Lim, 28, said: "Besides showing the bus stop names, perhaps the display can also indicate what prominent landmarks are around that bus stop."

Improvements to public buses, such as the inclusion of USB charging ports on newer fleets, are part of an overhaul of the bus sector. Since September, the industry has moved to a contracting model in which LTA owns all operating assets, including buses.