Arriva Yorkshire wins best practice award

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) has announcedthat bus operator Arriva Yorkshire has been selected by anindependent panel as the winners of the travel/leisure category ofthe RNIB/Thames Water Best Practice Awards.

The Company had been shortlisted for the award because of thedevelopment and introduction of the announce system on routes 110Wakefield to Leeds and X33 Sheffield to Bradford.

Announce is a partnership of Metro, Hanover Displays, DFT,Wayfarer, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DIPTAC)and Arriva Yorkshire.

The system gives added comfort and ease of use to ArrivaYorkshire customers with visual and aural disabilities. The systemworks by means of a visual display and verbal announcement givingdetails of specific bus services and individual bus stops along theroute.

The RNIB/Thames Water Best Practice Awards are held annually,and are intended to recognise individuals, organisations andcompanies who are prepared to make exceptional efforts to benefitpeople with serious sight problems, and/or other disabilities. Thekey messages of Best Practice are innovation, inclusion andinspiration. The only transport operator to be shortlisted, Arriva,beat stiff competition from The English Tourism Council, andEngland Heritage to win the award.

Ken Clarke, managing director of Arriva Yorkshire who acceptedthe awards, said:

We are delighted that our work has been recognised bythe RNIB.

'Announce' is an exciting local project developed inpartnership which has already provided benefits to manypassengers.

Caroll Pattison of RNIB commented:

Arriva are very worthy winners of RNIB's Best PracticeAward for their efforts in making their services accessible toall.

ENDS