West Midlands public transport promoter Centro has announced the country’s largest scheme to help make travel easier for blind and partially-sighted passengers.

New easy-to-read signs are being installed at all eleven bus stations it operates by the end of the year.

Interchanges in Dudley, Wednesbury and Walsall are the first to benefit from the approach, where information at every bus stop gives the route numbers and destination in Braille and in a large, raised font.

“These are basic steps, but they make a very real and welcome difference to blind and partially-sighted passengers,” says Centro projects director Tom Magrath.  “What we are doing is making sure the roll-out of new signs at our bus stations takes proper account of the needs of all our customers.”

Centro says the use of clear, colour-contrasting fonts and large text and direction signs at eye-level should enable all passengers to navigate around the bus stations more easily.

Other measures being carried out include improvements to dropped kerbs, tactile paving, clearer contrasting handrails, and more seating with armrests.