In Montreal, you can finally track the bus in real time

The days of waiting at the bus stop in the freezing cold, wondering whether the bus has already gone by or is held up in traffic, may finally be behind us.

The STMhas released its long-awaited iBussystem, which allows public transit users to find out when their bus is supposed to arrive in real time, instead of relying on theprinted schedule.

The information will be available on the STM website and through a third-party app calledTransit. There is a tutorial on the STM's website showing how it works.

PhilippeSchnobb, the chair of theSTM, saysthe new system will allow Montrealers to make more informed decisions.

"You'll know exactly when to go out to take the bus," hetold CBC Montreal'sDaybreak.

The new system will also be useful for drivers who work for theSTM like Carole Lessard. She said she's looking forward to putting it to use.

"It's for the best if it can inform people on days like Wednesday, for example, where obviously everyone was delayed," said Lessard.

"So if people could know what to expect, that would clearly be a good thing."

In January, another app, Chrono, will also have the STM's real time information as well. Chrono is run by the umbrella transit organization l'Autorit rgionale de transport mtropolitain.

The currentSTMapp will be phased out.

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Sometime next year, other features will be added including the ability to track the location of buses on a map and obtain real-time schedules via text message.

TheSTMdata will also bemade available to other developers,Schnobbsaid.