The Porto Public Transport Company (STCP) now offers a free service on WhatsApp that allows passengers to know, in real time, when the next bus arrives. The service is accessible through the number 226 158 158 and works as a two-way information channel, where the passenger can indicate the line they want to check, the stop where they are or their location.
Through this tool, the passenger receives an arrival prediction in a few seconds and can follow the journey's progress in real time after the first query. The transport company states that the objective is to facilitate access to information at the moment the passenger needs it, adapting communication channels to users' digital habits.
Before WhatsApp, STCP had reinforced the information available through Google Maps since June 9, allowing passengers to check the location of buses and predicted arrival times. This functionality covers the 2,517 stops on the network and the entire operation of the company, which on weekdays carries out more than 5,000 trips.
The Unir network has also been providing real-time consultation through Google Maps since June 11, allowing passengers to track vehicle locations and estimated passing times at stops. Digital information thus coexists with the consultation methods already in use, such as the physical schedules available at stops.
