Four new accessible information products developed through a competition staged by the Department for Transport and Innovate UK to help coach and bus operators comply with PSV Accessible Information Regulations (PSVAIR) requirements have been unveiled.
The new products are being positioned as lower-cost routes to compliance and launch as the industry prepares for an end to exemptions for in-scope rail replacement services in July.
The four winning suppliers are Application Studio, Maverick ML, StarPal, and You. Smart. Thing.
Route Robin — Application Studio
Application Studio’s product, Route Robin (pictured right), is a portable, hardware-led compliance system designed specifically for rail replacement, with the supplier emphasising robustness and a design that replicates what passengers would expect to find on board a train.
It uses a steel-enclosed display unit that can be mounted on windows, as shown, or seatbelts, either temporarily or permanently. Application Studio says installation takes around five minutes for one person. It can run without internet connectivity, uses geofenced stop announcements, and is programmed via bluetooth or web portal.
The company pitches it as a one-off purchase, with a standard price of £1,999, with an optional £9.99 web programming service. A separate speaker can be included for audio announcements, alongside a portable induction loop.
Smart Accessible Information System — Maverick ML
Maverick ML has presented what it calls the Smart Accessible Information System (SAIS).
Currently available as a small plug-and-play device known as ‘the box’ (pictured left), the solution hooks up to existing compatible systems (such as screens and a public address system) within the vehicle. It pairs next-stop announcements with static visual images of stops to assist passengers.
Maverick ML says key features are a “human level voice” to enrich audio information, and extensive trialling with
disability groups in real-world scenarios. A larger, fully-integrated flagship model, which is expected to include the option of 21 or 24 inch screens supplied by Maverick ML, is also being prepared for market.
The “box” is priced at £950.
StarPal for Coaches — StarPal
Supplier StarPal has taken a lighter-touch approach with a portable kit that features two screens with built-in speakers and a driver control device (such as a smartphone), powered by batteries.
The screens use a customisable animated avatar, which the supplier calls George (pictured right). George can be either male or female and leverages artificial intelligence to speak to passengers, answer questions, and make announcements. Broad multilingual capability is supported, and cloud-based route programming removes the need for USB uploads and lengthy manual set up. Pricing starts from £150 per month per kit, with kits able to be shared across multiple vehicles. George can also be customised with operator branding.
StarPal says its solution has been designed to offer the “best possible cost to retrofit” and that it is suited to the sporadic nature of the rail replacement market.
SmartCoach — You. Smart. Thing.
You. Smart. Thing., which has a background in delivering sustainable visitor experiences through tech solutions, has taken what it calls a “hardware agnostic” approach.
Its software-first platform is aimed at operators with newer fleets already fitted with display screens, PA systems, and hearing loops. It overlays PSVAIR-compliant software (shown below) onto compatible existing assets that links directly with aggregators handling rail replacement contracts, reducing manual rekeying of services.
An operator dashboard allows services to be uploaded manually or pushed through data feeds, with automated next-stop announcements running offline once downloaded onto the vehicle. Pricing is set at £95 per operational rail replacement coach per month.
With rail replacement services coming fully into scope from 31 July, the suppliers encourage operators to begin conversations now, as it may becoming challenging to secure stock and onboarding slots closer to the enforcement deadline.
