Four projects aiming to provide more accessible travel on rail replacement coaches with improved audio & visual aid have been chosen to receive a share of 800,000 GBP of government funding as part of the Plan for Change.
The projects, which include a 3D animated avatar that allows passengers to ask enquiries through voice interaction or access audio via apps or QR codes, were chosen following a competition run by Innovate UK.
The competition aimed to seek out projects combining both established solutions with newer technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and a new Bluetooth capability, Auracast, to deliver real-time information in a range of accessible formats.
Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:There are around 16 million disabled people in the UK and many depend on coach services to get around. It’s vital that these services provide clear, accessible information for everyone, particularly on rail replacement journeys where the route and stops can change.
To help rail replacement coach operators make this transition smoothly, we are providing £800,000 of funding as part of the government’s Plan for Change to explore technology that helps all passengers, regardless of their needs, travel with confidence and independence. Public transport should be accessible for all and we’re committed to making that a reality – clearing away barriers to growth.
Each project is expected to be completed by March 2026 and offer flexible solutions for a number of different vehicle applications, supporting the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations first established in 2023 which require local bus and coach services to provide both clear and accessible audible and visible onboard information to all passengers.
