The popularity of certain bus routes can now be tracked by Automatic Passenger Counter technology and GPS installed in new buses last year.

Already there are 17 buses that can gather such data, seven of which were purchased last year to replace vehicles lost in the arson attack at the Somerset Terminal on Easter Sunday, 2005.

The PTB annual general report for the 2005/2006 fiscal year said that all buses purchased from now on will have the technology. The report said: ?APCs use electric scanners to count passengers boarding and disembarking the 2K5 buses. The data gathered measures route performance.

?More effective route scheduling can be planned based on the data gathered by APCs about ridership and peak periods.?

The report also stated that eight supervisors earned Diplomas in Supervision from the Bermuda College. The programme was developed by PTB management, the Department of Human Resources and the Centre for Professional and Career Education.

The six-month course includes lessons in Computers, Math, English and Supervision. The remaining PTB supervisors will complete the course during this year.

Staff training also took several employees to Germany, where many of the new buses come from. They learned how to maintain the electrical and air conditioning systems.

Representatives from both of PTB?s major suppliers also visited the Island last year.

During these visits, 18 refinements were made to the 2005 buses such as, using a stainless steel frame to prevent rusting.

Complaints about the bus service were also down every month, except June, when compared to the last four years.

PTB Director Dan Simmons said: ?As we adjust to increasing service demands and changing technical requirements, it is our desire to provide a continually improving place of employment with opportunities for professional development.

?As always, providing professional transit services is our primary objective.?