Bluestar UK buses departure display with a Raspberry Pi. Optionally, use an OLED display to display and navigate.

https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk

Use the Bluestar_extract.py to just display on your console the info. Use main_oled_bluestar.py to display on the OLED. You can use the arrows to navigate through the list and the buttons to refresh the data.

The OLED module by default is configured as SPI. It can be changed to I2C by soldering the resistors on the back of the unit. The OLED library has the I2C definitions, but it has not been tested.

Hardware

Raspberry Pi (tested on Raspberry Pi 3 and Zero) Optionally: Waveshare 1.3 inch OLED HAT https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/1.3inch_OLED_HAT (Aliexpress or Ebay)

Software

• Python3
• Dietpi OS https://www.dietpi.com or Rasperry Pi OS:

Installing dependencies

Dietpi

login as root:

dietpi-config
4-Advanced Options  ->  SPI_State = ON and optionally, also I2C State = ON
reboot

apt install i2c-tools python3-smbus
apt install python3-rpi.gpio
pip3 install beautifulsoup4
pip3 install spidev
pip3 install pillow
sudo apt-get install libopenjp2-7
reboot

Rasperry Pi OS

NOTE: not tested, some packages may be missing.

ip a
sudo raspi-config   (activate I2C and SPI)
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install i2c-tools python3-smbus
sudo apt install python3-rpi.gpio
pip3 install beautifulsoup4
pip3 install spidev
pip3 install pillow
sudo apt-get install libopenjp2-7
sudo reboot

Checks

ls /sys/class/spi* lsmod | grep spi

Download

Download the code and extract it to your home folder. Rename the folder to your own preference. For example: bluestarbus

Run

Obtain the bus stop number

First, you need to go to the Bluestar bus webpage and click on "Plan your journey" (https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/plan-your-journey) Now type your bus stop or use "Find your stop on the map". For example, "Southampton, Bargate Street Stop"

On the url, copy and save the bus stop number, e.g.: "1980SN121003"
(Underlined in red in the following image):

Modify the code

cd bluestarbus

nano Bluestar_extract.py (or use vim or your favorite text editor)

Change the number in the "url_stop_name" variable and if you want, the comment after the hash #:

url_stop_name = "1980SN121003" #Bargate

To save the changes, Ctrl+O, press Enter and then Ctrl+X

For your console: python3 Bluestar_extract.py

For the OLED Display: python3 main_oled_bluestar.py

To stop execution, Ctrl+C

Run code from start up

NOTE 2021: I have not tested this again. It should work (rename the folder name if required).

Dietpi

crontab -e

@reboot sleep 30 && cd /home/dietpi/bluestarbus && /usr/bin/python3 ./main_oled_bluestar.py &

Raspbian

crontab -e

@reboot sleep 30 && cd /home/pi/bluestarbus && /usr/bin/python3 ./main_oled_bluestar.py &

Credits

jvteleco 2021