RNID uses evidence to inform our work to change the lives of individuals, systems and services, and society and public attitudes. This policy statement draws on insights from our evidence review, Clear Signals report (2026) and our work with deaf people and people with hearing loss to explore the changes we want to see, and how we can make that a reality.
Read our report on public transport accessibility.
Background: Public Transport accessibility in the UK
Responsibility for public transport accessibility is shared between the UK Government, devolved governments, transport authorities, and operators. Regulation and guidance vary across transport modes.
While audio-visual information requirements exist in some modes, the framework remains fragmented, leading to inconsistent experiences for deaf people and people with hearing loss. For example, the Public Service Vehicles Act (2023) puts an obligation on bus operators to ensure that their vehicles provide hearing loops so that passengers with hearing aids can access audio announcements. No equivalent obligation exists on rail, ferries or trams.
The Better Connected Strategy (2026) includes a pledge to build a shared framework for accessible and inclusive travel, and there is a move to devolve more powers to strategic authorities, providing more local control over public transport services. In response to the 2025 ‘Access Denied’ report by the House of Commons Transport Committee, the Government requested that the Law Commission review accessible transport legislation and make recommendations on how it can be improved.
It is also worth noting that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved powers over some aspects of transport policy, enabling them to make improvements to their services and make plans that serve the needs of their communities.
The problems
- Access to information: The transport system relies heavily on audio announcements, and information is rarely provided in BSL, particularly when journeys are disrupted.
- Communication with staff: Staff support is an important aspect of inaccessible, but is unreliable, affected by staff availability, attitudes, and deaf awareness.
- Physical environment: Noise, poor lighting, and overcrowding compound other access problems, and add to the stress people who are deaf or have hearing loss experience while travelling.
What we want to achieve
RNID wants a public transport system where deaf people and people with hearing loss can travel independently and confidently. There needs to be reliable and consistent access to information across transport modes through improved passenger information systems accessible to all passengers.
Audio announcements must be made accessible to people with hearing loops through technologies such as hearing loops, Auracast and, where possible, BSL translation. Additionally deaf awareness training should be made available for all customer-facing staff, including the use of technologies for improving accessibility.
What we’re doing
RNID is calling for policy and regulatory reform, investment in innovation, and improved service delivery, grounded in the findings of our Clear Signals report.
We also work to ensure technological innovation improves public transport for deaf people and people with hearing loss, exploring the views of the BSL community on AI-enabled sign language tools, and ensuring the Auracast roll-out meets the needs of the community through collaboration on trials and the publication of guidance.
Learn more about our policy and influencing work.
RNID’s recommendations for driving meaningful change
Achieving this requires coordinated action by governments, regulators, transport authorities, operators and manufacturers.
Our full list of recommendations can be found on page 68 of our Clear Signals report (PDF 15MB).
1. Policy and regulatory reform
The framework for passenger information is fragmented across transport modes, leading to inconsistent and unpredictable experiences which undermines passenger confidence. Reform should create a consistent, pan-modal approach to accessible information, including alignment of all legal requirements for audio-visual information and an obligation to make audio information accessible to people with hearing loss.
- Our recommendations include driving accessibility standards and guidance forward through the Accessible Travel Charter and the Great British Railways Long Term Rail Strategy, and improving monitoring and enforcement of existing requirements. We are also recommending that the Law Commission make passenger information a central part of its review of transport accessibility legislation.
2. Support for innovation
There are new technologies, at different stages of maturity, which have the potential to transform accessibility for deaf people and people with hearing loss. This is particularly relevant for emerging or evolving approaches, such as:
- Auracast for direct delivery of high-quality audio to hearing devices.
- AI-enabled BSL translation for near real-time information.
To realise the benefits from these and other promising technology, further investment is needed in testing, implementation and evaluation, with people who have lived experience involved throughout.
3. Improved service delivery and accountability
Achieving meaningful change requires stronger delivery, oversight and accountability across the transport sector. This can be achieved by embedding accessibility improvements in transport plans at national and local level. Transport operators should improve staff deaf awareness training and the availability of accessible customer support. Services should be co-designed with people with lived experience.
Why these changes will work
Our recommendations are based on our original social research with deaf people and people with hearing loss and feedback from members of the transport industry. This has allowed us to identify where changing the system is both achievable and high impact.
Our research tells us that deaf people and people with hearing loss prioritise improved access to visual information, including real-time announcements and updates, training staff to better support deaf people, and clearer audio announcements delivered directly to hearing aids.
Through stakeholder engagement with the transport industry, we’ve identified that we can influence change in the sector by increasing awareness of barriers people face, and potential solutions. Engaging with large infrastructure projects to build in accessibility from day one, and improving deaf awareness throughout the sector will help ensure public transport journeys are accessible from start to finish.