Bluetooth passenger counting trial
Project overview
Transport for NSW is trialling new Bluetooth Low Energy technology on select buses to better understand passenger numbers and travel patterns.
These insights will help improve the way we plan and deliver bus services, making them more reliable and better matched to passenger needs.
About the trial
Transport for NSW is running a four-week trial of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that counts passengers by detecting nearby Bluetooth signals and turning them into a digital headcount. It does not collect personal details or identify individuals.
If successful, the technology will enable Transport for NSW to better understand passenger demand levels, and in turn, allocate services more efficiently, by optimising timetables to reduce crowded or underutilised services.
Improved planning across the bus network is a key recommendation of the Bus Industry Taskforce.
What’s happening
From Monday 13 October until 7 November 2025, Transport will trial the BLE technology on the 685n school bus service between NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus and North Curl Curl. There are no changes to timetables or fares during the trial.
Posters with a QR code linking to more information are displayed at bus stops and on board. To validate the passenger numbers recorded by the BLE technology, a person will ride the bus to manually count the number of passengers getting on and off the service.
After the trial ends, the collected data will be analysed to check accuracy and usefulness, and any decisions about wider use of the technology will be made once the results are reviewed.
Why we’re doing this
Students using a School Opal card should tap on and tap off every time they use public transport.
However, some students either forget to, or neglect to, tap on / tap off while travelling which means that data otherwise captured by the Opal system is not available, and in turn, Transport’s ability to plan and allocate services is reduced.
The BLE technology aims to gather information and insights that will help improve the way we plan services for passengers.
The BLE technology aims to fill these gaps by providing additional information about how many passengers are using the bus and when.
This insight will support better planning and allocation of bus services, helping Transport to:
- understand the demand for services
- refine service times when people need them most
- reduce waiting times by allocating buses according to demand
- improve service reliability and convenience, encouraging more people to use public transport.
Privacy and security
The BLE technology only counts the number of Bluetooth signals on board and does not collect names, phone numbers, or any other personal information.
Signals are converted into a digital headcount that cannot identify individuals.
Passengers can opt out by turning off Bluetooth on their devices during the trip.
Count data is processed securely and retained only for the duration of the trial.
Full privacy details are available in our Frequently Asked Questions on this page. You can also view the Transport for NSW Privacy Statement.
Find out more
Full details about the trial, including how it works, privacy information, and opt-out instructions are available in our Frequently Asked Questions document.
Related documents
Contact us
For further information about the trial, please contact us on 131 500.