Talking buses hit Devon

Bus stops get high-tech too

A partnership between Stagecoach South West and Torbay Council has brought talking buses to the Bay.

Using spanking new technology, customers on routes 12 and 22 will be served announcements of each stop as the vehicle approaches.

It's the kind of audio-visual system well-recognised for travellers on public transport in cities such as London. Now it's in Devon!

Passengers get to know exactly where their bus or train is. Thirty buses on two of Stagecoach’s most popular routes in the Torbay area, the number 12 that connects Newton Abbot with Torquay, Paignton and Brixham every 10 minutes; and the 22 connecting  Dawlish Warren with Teignmouth, St Marychurch, Torquay, Paignton and South Devon College every 20 minutes.

Scrolling messages alert passengers of the next stop, whilst the system also sounds a spoken announcement to customers on board.

The service should help customers with visual impairments travel independently plus will prove a major benefit to the many visitors the Bay welcomes every year. 

Stagecoach have programmed the system to enable GPS auto-adjusting destination displays so that the vehicle will show key via points relevant to the area that the bus is currently in - for example, a bus travelling to Brixham will no longer show a generic destination of Torquay as via point, but instead display Goodrington, given passengers greater confidence when travelling.  

Stagecoach South West Managing Director Mike Watson said:  “As we look to emerge from covid, we have an opportunity for all partners - operators, national government and local authorities to work together to harness the huge potential of the bus to help tackle climate change, deliver better air quality in our towns and cities, secure improved mobility for local people and support a sustainable economic recovery for the country.

"Projects like this help to make public transport an attractive and viable option for local communities and visitors to the bay,  making our buses even easier to use.

“There is plenty more that can be done with this system, and we will be adding to it over the coming months to continually improve customer experience.

Torbay's leader Cllr Steve Darling said; “As a bus user myself and someone who is registered blind, I know how invaluable I have found audio announcements on the next stops on unfamiliar routes.

"This technology will be helpful to both residents and visitors alike and I am delighted that people will start to benefit from this new initiative. We are committed to improving the entire bus network through a range of initiatives which not only reduce carbon emissions, but through the provision of a service that meets the needs of local communities.”