New rules that came into force at the beginning of October are to compel bus operators including Stagecoach South West to provide real-time onboard bus journey information screens and announcements.
The government said the legislation would help improve disabled people’s experience of public transport when it was announced last year, but almost all local bus users are expected to benefit from the changes.
The new rules require buses introduced on local services since October 2019 to provide visual and audible real-time journey details – including expected arrival times, the current route and the next stop – from October this year.
Buses first used on local services between October 2014 and October 2019 must comply from October next year, while older vehicles must comply by October 2026.
There are extensions to the deadlines for some partially-compliant vehicles.
Despite such facilities being commonplace elsewhere in the country, none are currently provided on Exeter’s buses, most of which are operated by Stagecoach South West.
An onboard bus service information announcement display on a London bus
We asked Stagecoach South West to provide the number of Exeter buses that would fall under each category and to confirm whether any of its Exeter buses were already compliant, if required, with the new rules.
It failed to do so, and also failed to confirm whether older vehicles that are required to comply by October 2026 might be withdrawn from service instead.
However unofficial data collected from bus operators and other sources of fleet information suggests that nearly 40% of the company’s Exeter-based fleet of around 150 buses will need modifying to comply by next October.
Enforcement of the new rules will depend on passengers complaining to the bus operator and, if necessary, escalating complaints to independent watchdog Transport Focus.
Failing this, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency can involve the Traffic Commissioner in the most serious non-compliance cases.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Stagecoach South West said it was “committed to ensuring that our fleet complies with the newly introduced accessibility requirements”.
It subsequently added that it is in the process of procuring twenty vehicles which meet the new rules.
