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December 18, 2002

Better passenger information for disabled people

From: 10 Downing Street, UK - 18 Dec 2002

A new scheme to provide information to bus passengers, including those who have impaired hearing or vision, has completed successful trials in West Yorkshire.

As part of the Announce project, double deck buses running on the 110 route from Leeds to Wakefield were fitted with internal loudspeakers and a display screen to announce each stop along the route.

Findings from the trial showed that on board announcements helped disabled people, as well as other passengers who may be unfamiliar with the route.

The project was backed with £80,000 of Government funding. Welcoming the progress of the project, Transport Minister David Jamieson said:

"Information is vitally important to all of us as public transport users and for people who have low vision or a hearing loss, knowing how to use public transport and having the confidence to do so can be a major challenge.

"I am delighted that my Department has played a part in this successful scheme and I hope that bus operators around the country will study the outcomes of this project and consider introducing similar systems."

Extra info...

The trial started in March 2001 and reported its findings in Autumn this year. A copy of the summary report will shortly be available on the Department for Transport website.

© 2002 10 Downing Street