Applications have today (8 April) opened for small coach and bus operators to bid for a share of a funding package of £4.65 million, aimed at rolling out advanced audio-visual (AV) announcement systems across their fleets.
The funding, dubbed the Accessible Information Grant, is to support the installation of screens, speakers, and induction loops on buses, ensuring passengers are well-informed of their route and upcoming stops throughout their journey.
Eligibility is restricted to operators with a fleet of 20 vehicles or fewer, underlining the focus on supporting small to medium-sized enterprises.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to make public transport more accessible and user-friendly, particularly those with sight and hearing impairments, and comes in the wake of new regulations introduced last year mandating all bus operators to provide such accessible information to passengers by October 2026 at the latest.
Guy Opperman, Minister for Accessibility and Ministerial Disability Champion at the Department for Transport, states: “This £4.65 million is the extra push to give operators the tools to upgrade their buses on time and ensure all passengers can board with confidence.”
Adds Pete Osborne, Deputy CEO at Guide Dogs: “For many people with sight loss, bus travel has been difficult or impossible because of a lack of audio next stop and final destination announcements.
“After years of campaigning, we were delighted with the new regulations announcement last year and we greatly welcome the opening of these grants. AV announcements on buses will be a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive and accessible transport network, helping people live the lives they choose.”
The initiative is complemented by the release of the ‘Right to Ride’ guide, a collaborative effort between the government and charity Scope, which consolidates essential travel information for disabled passengers into a single, accessible document.
Emphasising the guide’s importance in empowering disabled passengers, Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive at Scope, says: “The Right to Ride document is a significant step forward in providing disabled people with more clarity and transparency over their rights and what to expect when travelling on public transport. We want transport companies to listen to their disabled customers and make travel more accessible for all.”
