Initial three-vehicle retrofit demonstrates accessible passenger information, a universal mounting system and portable technology for rail-replacement operations.
Rise Digital Media has completed the first phase of a NextStop® PSVAIR deployment for P C Coaches of Lincoln, retrofitting accessible passenger-information technology to three vehicles from the operator’s fleet.
The installations form part of plans to extend the solution across P C Coaches’ remaining in-scope vehicles over the coming months.
NextStop provides coordinated audible and visible information throughout the journey, including route, destination and upcoming-stop announcements. The technology is designed to support operators in meeting their responsibilities under the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023, commonly abbreviated to PSV(AI)R.
Retrofitting the technology allows existing vehicles to benefit from modern passenger-information capabilities and provides operators with a practical route towards introducing consistent, accessible information across a mixed fleet.
One Screen Chassis, Multiple Mounting Options>
A key feature of the P.C Coaches deployment is the flexibility of NextStop’s universal mounting system.
Vehicles across a mixed fleet rarely share identical interiors. Some provide suitable vertical or horizontal poles, while others require equipment to be secured to a bulkhead or another appropriate structural surface.
The NextStop system uses the same passenger-information screen chassis for both pole-mounted and bulkhead-mounted installations. The appropriate mounting components can be selected following the vehicle assessment without requiring a different screen enclosure for each configuration.
This approach provides several practical advantages:
A consistent screen and enclosure across different vehicle types
Reduced hardware and inventory complexity
Greater flexibility when planning mixed-fleet deployments
Easier replacement and reassignment of equipment
A more consistent appearance throughout the fleet
The ability to select the most appropriate mounting position for each vehicle
Strengthening an Established Partnership
P C Coaches is a valued and long-standing customer of Rise Digital Media. The NextStop deployment builds upon the successful delivery of the operator’s website and branded mobile ticketing application.
The relationship now extends from passenger-facing web and mobile services into the onboard environment, creating a more connected experience across journey planning, ticket purchasing, travel information and the journey itself.
Scott James, Founder and CEO of Rise Digital Media, said:
“P.C Coaches operates a varied fleet, so this project provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility built into the NextStop system. Using the same screen chassis, we were able to accommodate both pole-mounted and bulkhead-mounted installations. This reduces unnecessary hardware variation while allowing the mounting approach to be selected around the layout of each suitable vehicle. We also tested our portable configuration for rail-replacement coaches, demonstrating how NextStop can support both permanent local-bus installations and more flexible operating requirements. P C Coaches has been a valued customer of Rise Digital Media, and we look forward to continuing the rollout across its remaining in-scope fleet.”
