Transferable Audio-Visual Equipment on Rail Replacement Coaches

The Department for Transport is providing up to £2 million in grant funding to support coach operators in delivering accessible journey information on rail replacement services. From the 1st of August 2026, these services will be required to provide clear, audible and visible information, including next stop announcements, in line with the Public Service Vehicle (Accessible Information) Regulations. The grant will reimburse up to 75% of the cost of purchasing transferable audio-visual equipment, helping operators meet these requirements and provide passengers, particularly disabled passengers, with greater confidence, independence and consistency when travelling during disruption. The scheme will run for six months, or until funding is fully allocated.

Opening date: 6 July 2026, 12:00pm (Midday)
Closing date: 18 December 2026, 12:00pm (Midday)

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Summary
Eligibility
Objectives
Dates
How to apply
Supporting information

Summary

The Department for Transport is providing a time-limited grant scheme, with up to £2 million in funding, to support coach operators in Great Britain to purchase transferable audio-visual (AV) equipment for use on rail replacement services. The purpose of the scheme is to accelerate the availability of services capable of providing clear, audible and visible journey information, in line with the Public Service Vehicle (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (AIR). These regulations require that operators provide journey information such as current and next stop in an accessible format, which is particularly important during disruption and essential for many disabled passengers: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780348246872/contents

Rail replacement services are a critical part of the transport network, providing continuity when rail services are disrupted. However, there are currently not enough coaches equipped with suitable AV equipment, to meet national rail replacement demand. The grant scheme seeks to address this by subsidising the purchase of transferable AV equipment, which can be installed, removed and reused across different vehicles.

Transferrable equipment supports faster deployment, improved value for money, and more flexible use compared to permanently installed systems, enabling a smaller number of units to support a larger number of journeys. Funding will be provided on a cost recovery basis, reimbursing a proportion of eligible costs after purchase, ensuring that public funding directly increases the number of vehicles capable of providing compliant information.

The scheme is designed to be targeted and time-limited, supporting a rapid increase in equipment that enables coaches to comply with AIR, as quickly as possible. It will operate for a defined period, encouraging early uptake while allowing operators sufficient time to plan and procure equipment.

By increasing the availability of compliant rail replacement services, the scheme will help ensure passengers receive consistent and reliable journey information during disruption. This will improve confidence and independence when travelling, particularly for disabled passengers, and bring the standard of rail replacement services more closely in line with the experience passengers expect when travelling by train.

Eligibility

The grant is open to coach operators who provide, or are capable of providing, rail replacement services in England, Scotland and Wales. Applicants must be organisations that operate coaches used for passenger transport and are responsible for delivering services during periods of rail disruption.

To be eligible, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have purchased equipment that is both capable of providing AIR compliant journey information on coaches, and that is easily transferrable between vehicles.

Applicants may include operators with an established track record of providing rail replacement services, as well as operators who are able to enter the market. Operators with evidence of recent rail replacement activity may be eligible for higher levels of support aligned to their level of service provision.

Peripheral equipment such as screens, and portable induction loops are also eligible provided they are easily transferrable between vehicles, and are capable of generating AIR compliant journey information themselves, or are purchased to support equipment that is capable of generating AIR compliant journey information.

Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, so applicants must be able to cover upfront costs and provide evidence of purchase.

Applications will not be accepted from: Organisations that do not directly operate coaches (for example, leasing companies, intermediaries such as aggregators); Bus operators that do not also operate coaches; equipment that requires permanent fitting to a vehicle; equipment that is not capable of generating AIR compliant journey information, or does not support equipment capable of generating AIR compliant journey information.

Meeting these eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding. Applications will be assessed against the scheme’s requirements and the availability of funding.

Objectives

The purpose of this grant is to increase the availability of rail replacement coach services capable of providing accessible journey information, in line with the Public Service Vehicle (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (AIR). These regulations require passengers to receive clear, audible and visible information about their journey, including current and next stop announcements.

The grant aims to accelerate the uptake of transferable audio-visual (AV) equipment by coach operators, addressing the current shortfall in compliant vehicles and supporting the transition to full compliance with the current exemptions ending on 31 July 2026.

Specifically, the objectives of the scheme are to:

Increase compliant capacity: support the purchase of transferable AV equipment to expand the number of vehicles capable of providing accessible information on rail replacement services
Enable regulatory compliance: support coach operators to meet the requirements of AIR within the required timeframe
Protect service continuity: reduce the risk of disruption to rail services caused by a shortage of compliant vehicles
Improve accessibility outcomes: ensure more passengers, particularly disabled passengers, can travel independently and confidently during disruption
Deliver value for money: maximise the number of compliant journeys delivered per pound of public funding by focusing on transferable equipment and a co-funded model

Through these objectives, the scheme is intended to ensure that passengers experience a consistent standard of accessible information whether travelling by train or on a rail replacement service, improving confidence and reducing uncertainty during disruption.

Dates

Applications will be assessed on a weekly rolling basis as they are submitted. The following timeframes are indicative (but may vary depending on the complexity, and completeness of your application of your application):

Application submitted.
Within 1 week:
Applications assessed.
Approve/Decline letter sent to applicants.
If approved, the applicant has 24 days to return signed paperwork including payment details.
Payments made within 30 days (but aim to pay 90% of applications within 5 working days).

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to submit an application by selecting "Start new application" on the Find a Grant platform by 12pm 18th December 2026 on GOV.UK.

Please note, the following documents need to be completed and uploaded to your application. You can find templates of them in the supporting documents:

AIR Checklist
Grant Checklist
Grant Calculator
Any other supporting documentation required

For guidance and support, please refer to the FAQs found in the supporting documentation section. For queries not included in FAQs please contact GGMS at rrcoachesav@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Successful applications will be deemed to have met all eligibility of the grant scheme. If your application is unsuccessful, you may be encouraged to re-apply. Please note that only one successful application to this Grant Scheme is allowed per applicant.

Supporting information