The council may cancel its £6 million contract with the company supplying new bus info boards because of continued problems.
Vix Technology has blamed the rain for failing to meet the end of February deadline for fixing the boards it was given by Brighton and Hove City Council.
As of mid February, it had only checked 63 boards, and more than one in ten of those needed to be fixed or replaced.
The council has now given it until the end of March, after which it will give them three weeks to test if they’re working, followed by individual testing.
If the boards continue to fil, Vix could be given the option to provide a different solution – or the contract could be cancelled altogether and put back out to tender.
Cabinet member for transport Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, said: “We do understand this is frustrating for residents and have made clear to our contractor we expect the necessary repairs and changes are made as soon as possible and at no cost to the taxpayer.
“The new real time displays and talking passenger information will be a genuine asset to our bus network. It is just disappointing that in many cases residents are still waiting to see these improvements at their local stop – and it is certainly a disappointment the council shares.”
A Vix Technology spokeswoman said: “We recognise that the end-of-February target to resolve the issues with some of the displays in Brighton has not been met, and we understand the frustration this has caused.
“The prolonged spell of wet weather has limited the time our engineers can safely access and open the units on site, which slowed progress on the audit.
“To move things forward, we’ve increased resources on the ground and brought in additional support from our manufacturing partner to speed up inspections and any necessary fixes.
“Where issues are identified, repairs or replacements are being prioritised so that the network can be brought fully back into service as quickly as possible.
“We remain committed to delivering a reliable passenger information system for Brighton & Hove and are continuing to work closely with the Council to complete the programme and ensure the displays perform as expected.”
Vix Technology was awarded the £6 million contract by Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council in January 2024.
The old boards were 20 years old and supplied by Trapeze Group, which did not bid for the new contract.
The new boards began to be installed in 2025, following significant shipping/import delays and issues with the pole brackets. Throughout 2025 there were ongoing electrical, audio and dimming issues, with some signs completely blank for more than six months.
One can’t imagine what if the council itself did the signage..
Noone ‘relies’ on them, it’s really not that deep.
It’s nice to have sure, but plenty on of stops have never had these and people manage just fine.
There are timetables and if one really needs the info it’s available on the app and by text message.
You are completely incorrect. Partially sighted people such as my wife, rely on them heavily. Thats just one example.
Would be nice if they actually put one BACK on the Southbound Nestor Court Stop. People rely on this and its been missing since Trevor Muten and his band of merry men screwed up the traffic and pedestrian safety by installing “Island Bus Stops”……..
All Muten does is screw up the city’s transport. He detests bus users as much as he detests car drivers. Bring the orange bus boards back.
As the information is readily available in the bus app for free. Why didn’t the council spend this money on providing proper bus shelters instead. I don’t understand why in 2026 we are still being provided with bus shelters that don’t shelter from the wind and don’t have seating and don’t have CCTV. Hove station bus stop… May as well sit in a wind tunnel
Not everyone, especially older people, use the bus app. To people with limited vision unable to read a phone or a timetable it is a valuable piece of information to be able to see when the bus will arrive
It would also have been good if the teams that installed the poles for the display boards had bothered to stand inside the bus shelters first: far too many of the display boards are obscured by the bus shelter frames, meaning that you have to step outside into the rain in order to read the times. It’s almost as if they thought “how can we put it in the worst possible place?”
Because the city is possibly one of the worst for mobile signal so its not always possible to check the app. You also assume people have a mobile phone – many people, especially elderly don’t. Also not everybody can use it and prefer the electronic bus stop signs – my wife is partially sighted and relies heavily on them. Just because YOU don’t see what they should be replaced, doesn’t mean you are correct. That said, I do agree in respect of bus stops.
If only they could actually put the correct information on the boards.
I know they are hindered by Brighton and Hove’s Councils ridiculous traffic plans, they should be able to say which numbered bus is next.
Most of the bus times display boards are based on the timetable, not live,as if the bus is late it disappears from the display. On apps,same time,bus will time goes,yet if able to track the bus,a late bus can be found,but not all use the app. Get a system similar to the railway use,all times n delays shown and stop the guessing on current bus displays
Assume they are the same Australian based Vix Technology involved is this US lawsuit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/doj-and-vix-technology-usa-inc-resolve-allegations-paycheck-protection-program-fraud .
Looks like the USA arm of the company made a claim for government employee covid support they weren’t eligible for and have had to pay it back. They’ve settled out of court for millions, rather than get dragged through the courts for fraud I guess.
If the council does continue to do business with companies who do not appear to have a good ethical track record, then they need to take some responsibility for screw ups like this.
This supplier should definitely be sued for what they have provided for £6m. These boards are completely unfit for purpose. Did they buy them from Poundland?
Very poor public transport.
These boards are never working.
Buses are always late and always cancelled.
That’s a load of bollocks. We have one of the best bus services in the country in Brighton. The info boards may have been screwed up by Vix and the council are completely incompetent, but the bus service is as reliable as it can be given the mess the council have made with the roads, pavements, bus stops etc…
I agree, as a regular bus user, the service and regularity of buses is excellent. I would go as far to say best in the country.
Never had a problem with the buses. For me, the live times are a nice to have. The actual service has always been excellent in Brighton.
Over 6 years have passed when the 5 5a 5B bus stop was moved from the south of London Road to Oxford Street i have over this period brought to the attention of Trevor Muton and a couple of councillors that the bus digital information was never replaced , a great number of promises were made to complete the work but nevertheless never achieved
However a solitary post has been installed recently I have some hope the information board will be attached but i am not holding my breath.
Wot would the one in Newhaven town centre is not here you know
From what I have experienced, always waiting a very long time for buses, bus drivers very rude to me, and I have always been told that I should never use buses because of my disabilities.
The bus board at Paston place bus stop going towards Eastbourne has never worked.