Next stop, more confident bus travel in Ipswich

Anyone who has ever sat on a bus wondering, “Have I missed my stop?” may welcome a new upgrade being introduced across Ipswich Buses.

New onboard passenger information technology will give customers clear audio announcements and visual updates throughout their journey, helping them know where they are, where the bus is heading and when their stop is coming up.

The system, supplied by Journeo, has been introduced primarily to make bus travel more accessible for passengers who are blind, partially sighted, visually impaired, hard of hearing or deaf.

But its benefits are likely to be felt much more widely.

For someone using an unfamiliar route, travelling independently for the first time or simply feeling a little nervous about catching the bus, clear journey information can make a real difference.

It could help older passengers, students, visitors to Ipswich, occasional bus users and anyone who does not yet know the local network like the back of their hand.

By sharing information both audibly and visually, the system aims to remove some of the uncertainty from bus travel and help more people feel comfortable travelling independently.

Dan Bassett, Managing Director of Ipswich Buses, said:

“We want everyone to feel confident when travelling with Ipswich Buses, regardless of how often they use our services or their individual accessibility needs.

“As well as supporting customers who are blind, partially sighted, hard of hearing or visually impaired, this technology supports everyone, including those who may be less familiar with bus travel.

“Ultimately, it’s about making journeys easier, more accessible and helping more people travel independently with confidence.”

The investment forms part of Ipswich Buses’ ongoing work to improve the passenger experience and make public transport accessible to more people across the community.

The upgrade was partly funded through the UK Government’s Local Authority Bus Grant, secured through the Suffolk Enhanced Partnership.

For regular passengers, it is a useful new feature. For someone who has previously lacked the confidence to travel by bus, it could be the difference between staying at home and getting out and about independently.

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Miranda Acres

Miranda has been a Freelance Marketing and Design Consultant for more years than she cares to remember, supporting local start-ups, SMEs and charities. A passionate founder of Ipswich.love. Huge supporter of Ipswich's bid for City of Culture 2029. Born, bred and choosing Ipswich.