A technical worker tests a GPS device newly installed on a bus in this photo published on Thursday, January 24, 2008. [Photo: thebeijingnews.com]

With the last batch of buses installed with the Global Positioning System on Wednesday morning, Beijing Xianglong Bus Co., Ltd announced that all their 828 buses on 23 routes have been equipped with GPS devices to keep the vehicles and their services on track.

The system, according to a report by the Beijing News, will help monitor the buses to leave and arrive on time.

In addition, the device can also inform the buses of latest traffic conditions as well as forecasts.

Bus drivers can also send out signals to monitor centers in emergency cases, said Guan Weiwei, deputy general manager of the company.

The company will continue to develop new functions of the device such as recording the buses' capacity, Guan added.

(CRI January 25, 2008)