The Taipei City Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its "e-bus" system on Thursday to more than 4,000 buses on 300 routes with real-time information available for downloads on the Internet and via cell phones by next year.The e-bus system has now been installed in more than 1,100 buses to provide accurate information on bus schedules.

Information about bus positions, the numbers of the bus stops between the current stop, and the arrival time will be shown on the message board at a total of 145 bus stops, and the system will be installed at about 1,000 more bus stops by next year.

"The system gives passengers updated information on bus arrival times via telephone, the Internet and cell phone," director of the citys transportation department Luo Shiaw-shyan （羅孝賢） told a press conference at Miramar Entertainment Park.

Arriving at the press conference by bus, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin （郝龍斌） expected the system to improve the citys traffic.

"The system will help to save passengers time and the city government will continue expanding the system to improve the traffic situation by encouraging more people to take public transportation," Hau said.

The city government has invited popular rock band Mayday （五月天） to promote the system.

For a real-time bus schedule, log on to www.e-bus.taipei.gov.tw, call 02-2346-1168, or log on to www.mbus.com.tw via cell phone.