A picture of Adam Sharp of a background of Sydney's street with their ghost buses

Sydney’s Ghost Buses Problem and How to Solve it

Data and AI Transport Insight by Adam Sharp /

At a glance:

  • One in ten Sydney buses disappear from apps before arrival, frustrating commuters
  • COSOL applies predictive analytics and real-time tracking to solve the "ghost bus" problem
  • Data-driven insights bring transparency and reliability back to urban transport
  • Improved passenger confidence supports smarter planning and better public services.

One in 10 buses in Greater Sydney is a ghost bus. These are the buses that run late, leaving you in the dark about when they will arrive. Rain, hail or shine, you’re left with no choice but to wait.

In fact, the NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen recently explained it perfectly;

“When you’re standing at a bus stop, sometimes it feels like dog years. But if you know the bus is coming and that that app information is reliable, it’ll mean that more people feel confident to catch public transport.”

On the other hand, train riders in Sydney can precisely track the arrival of their trains through the transport app.

This next-level customer experience technology is what train users are enjoying. They are a few years ahead of buses, but there is no reason why bus providers can’t provide the same level of service to Sydney bus users.

A real-time solution possible for buses

Here are just a few of the things COSOL's SIRI platform, designed for the transport industry, does:

  • Provide real-time communication to transport users (or as the train industry calls it: ‘now now’ time, if your mode of transport is 15 literal seconds away that is exactly what will be displayed on your app).
  • Keep transport users informed of the status of other parts of their journey, like; Lifts/elevator status (working or not) and nearby car park spaces (for those to park their car at a junction)
  • Addresses the behind the scenes issues that impact bus reliability, like predictive maintenance.

After many years of ‘minimal investment’ the NSW state government has allocated $15.8 million to upgrade the technology on Sydney buses.

Graphic explaining that the NSW Government has allocated $15.8 million to upgrade technology on Sydney buses

So, Sydney, get ready, because the era of ghost buses could soon be a thing of the past. We know it’s possible because it’s already been accomplished with trains.

As mentioned above, with the correct implementation, even buses delayed due to maintenance issues can be reduced thanks to predictive maintenance insights.

Profile photo of Adam Sharp, Co-Founder of Toustone, A COSOL Company

About Adam Sharp

Service Delivery Director and Co-Founder of Toustone, A COSOL Company

Adam Sharp has spearheaded the delivery of Decision Intelligence solutions across the Asia Pacific for decades. Adam has an extensive background in using data to optimise operations in asset-intensive verticals, like transportation, natural resources and logistics.

As an avid cyclist, Adam understands the nature of endurance and perseverance. This is not only reflected in his personal life but also in his approach to applying statistical and data analysis techniques in practical business scenarios to enhance decision-making.

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