Central AVL system (CAVL)

LCRCA is preparing for the introduction of bus franchising, starting in September 2026 with the full LCR bus network being franchised by the end of 2027, the LCRCA will directly manage network design, operational performance and operator payments. A Central AVL system (CAVL) is needed to act as the single source of truth for vehicle tracking, punctuality and network performance monitoring. The system will need to be fully tested and deployed prior to the end of May 2026
CAVL will consolidate data from multiple sources – including Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs), on-bus static AVL units and SIRI feeds – to produce consistent and accurate real-time information for passenger systems and performance analytics for both LCRCA and operators.
The CAVL system will underpin the LCRCA’s franchising and customer delivery framework. It must be cloud-based, secure and capable of handling data from all franchised operators, with configurable outputs for real-time information, punctuality and contractual performance.
Core functions include:
• Punctuality monitoring – covering both start point (PM1) and intermediate points (PM2) as part of the bus franchising customer delivery framework.
• Real-time monitoring of vehicle location (including live map), speed, headway, dwell time and journey times
• Acting as the authoritative AVL data source for all franchised operators.
• Managing disruptions and disruption messaging
• Ingesting AVL data from both ETMs and static AVL units
• Ensuring consistent GPS accuracy and refresh rates across operators.
• Validating schedules using TXC files to identify early, late, on-time and missed mileage
• Generating punctuality, reliability and Excess Waiting Time (EWT) KPIs.
• Providing operator-specific access controls so that each operator can only view and report on its own data.
• Offering open APIs and data feeds for integration with real-time passenger information systems and journey planners.
• Delivering configurable dashboards and reporting tools for both operators and LCRCA.
• Supporting integration with the future Contract Management and Payment Calculator System

Suppliers are invited to express their interest in receiving further details about this potential future procurement by opting in via the Proactis portal. As part of this engagement, suppliers should review the pre-market engagement brief and submit the requested information. In particular, we are seeking your views on how your systems could meet LCRCA’s requirements, including:
• Technical feasibility of your proposed solution
• Deployment approach, with consideration for meeting delivery timescales
• Ongoing support and maintenance arrangements
Your input will help shape the specification and ensure the procurement reflects market capability.