Guide Dogs applauds Swindon’s ‘talking buses’ for making bus travel better for blind and partially-sighted people

Guide Dogs is applauding a groundbreaking ‘talking bus’ service launched by Thamesdown Transport in Swindon, which is making bus travel safer and more user-friendly for blind and partially-sighted people. The audio announcements tell passengers which stop is coming up, and when the bus has arrived there – meaning drivers no longer have to ‘call out’ stops to passengers. The buses already have screens inside which display visual information about the next stop.

Guide dog owner Tony Trevennen, who lives and works in Swindon, has travelled to work by bus for 21 years. He said: “The new system is progress. It gives you more independence. It’s not just visually-impaired people who benefit, but also passengers who are new to the town or are visiting.”