Solar stops

Solar technology that can light bus stops even through the British winter will soon be appearing on London's streets in a project that will give the capital the biggest network of 'solar stops' in the world.

The new stops will be built and installed for Transport for London (TfL) by Trueform Engineering, using solar technology supplied by Carmanah Technologies.

The bus stops will all be assembled in Britain and have been designed specially for London - they've been proven to work even in the UK's gloomiest weather conditions.

Ordinary bus stops have no lights at all, but the solar stops light up automatically at dusk, which trials showed helped to make passengers feel safer while they wait for their bus.

Solar stops are easily identified with their white lighting making it easier for bus drivers to see people waiting at bus stops.

The white light, from light emitting diodes, also provides downlighting for waiting passengers and timetables which light up at the press of a button. This means people don't have to rely on sodium street lights to read timetable information and bus route numbers at night, something that's particularly difficult for elderly and visually impaired passengers.

Because the solar panels generate power wherever its needed, the stops are easy to set up anywhere - there's no need for a connection to the national grid - and they cost nothing to run.

The roll-out will start in Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow at the end of October, and installation will continue at a rate of 1,400 solar-lit stops each year for the next five years across London.