With 439 buses travelling more than 18 million miles every year and a workforce of around 1,300 people, Stagecoach operates an extensive transport network throughout Kent and East Sussex. Keeping drivers connected with each other and depot controllers is essential for managing daily services, dealing with breakdowns and delays and supporting passenger and driver safety across the network.
Previously, drivers used consumer messaging apps to communicate while out on the road. This could mean having to stop during a journey before safely reading or responding to an update. For an operation running continuously across multiple routes and locations, Stagecoach needed a quicker and more practical way to communicate. A dedicated system would allow information to be shared in real time while helping to improve driver welfare and keep services moving.
Stagecoach worked with IDARO and MTech to identify a system that could provide simple and reliable communication across its large operating area.
Introducing the IDARO Telo M5
Following an assessment of Stagecoach’s requirements and successful field trials, the IDARO Telo M5 was selected. The push to talk over cellular device uses the mobile network to give drivers instant communication at the press of a button.
This removed the need to rely on mobile phone calls or messaging apps while on the road and provided a direct connection between drivers and depot teams across Kent and East Sussex.
Supporting Safer Communication
Each Telo M5 was securely installed within the vehicle and used alongside a remote speaker microphone, giving drivers straightforward access to communication without needing to handle a mobile phone.
Group calling allows controllers and drivers to communicate with the appropriate teams quickly while emergency alerts and GPS tracking provide additional support for driver safety and coordination. Using mobile connectivity also gives Stagecoach the coverage required for drivers travelling across longer distances and more rural parts of the network.
Simple Deployment Without Radio Licensing
As IDARO operates using cellular networks rather than a traditional radio infrastructure, Stagecoach does not require a separate radio licence to use the system.
This makes deployment straightforward and cost effective while combining the familiar simplicity of two way radio with the wider coverage available through mobile networks. Drivers and depot staff can communicate quickly without the restrictions associated with a conventional radio network.
Results and Driver Feedback
Since the system was introduced, Stagecoach has improved communication between drivers and depot controllers while providing additional reassurance for staff working out on the road. Controllers can respond quickly when delays, incidents or other operational issues arise and drivers have immediate access to support when required.
Danny Millis, Operations Director at Stagecoach, said:
“IDARO has enabled us to contact our drivers far more easily, which has brought all sorts of safeguarding benefits to them and made them feel far more secure in their work. With the radios in place, it’s instant communication – no signal dropouts, no delays. After rolling it out at our Thanet depot, it proved so successful we’re now extending it across our other locations.”
