PSVAIR compliance kit for rail replacement coaches

Plug-and-play kit that makes any coach PSVAIR (Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023) compliant. Audio-visual next-stop announcements, hearing loop, GPS-triggered. No wiring. No drilling. No downtime. Transferable across multiple coaches.

£625 per coach after the 75% DfT grant.

PSVAIR compliance in plain English

The StarPal PSVAIR kit is a self-contained, plug-and-play audio-visual passenger information system for coaches and buses. It provides GPS-triggered next-stop and final-stop announcements, a readable passenger display and a hearing loop, without being wired into the vehicle.

It is made for UK coach and bus operators, and especially for operators running rail replacement services with mixed fleets.

The kit costs £625 per coach after the 75% DfT grant for transferable audio-visual equipment. The grant covers 75% of eligible equipment costs, capped at £2,000 excluding VAT per vehicle, while funds last.

There is no installation: the kit is fitted in minutes by a driver or depot staff, with no drilling, no wiring and no vehicle downtime.

Each kit is transferable between vehicles, so one kit can move to whichever coaches are on duty that day, and it stays with your business if you sell a vehicle.

The kit meets the onboard accessible information requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (PSVAIR).

Frequently asked questions

What is the StarPal PSVAIR kit?

It is a self-contained, plug-and-play kit that makes any coach or bus compliant with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023. It includes tablets, a passenger display, speakers, a hearing loop, a battery and mounting hardware. Nothing is wired into the vehicle.

Who is it for?

It is built for UK coach and bus operators, and particularly for operators running rail replacement services. It suits mixed fleets where vehicles move between rail replacement, private hire and school work.

How much does it cost?

The kit is £625 per coach after the 75% DfT grant. The grant covers 75% of eligible equipment costs, capped at £2,000 excluding VAT per vehicle, while funds last.

How long does installation take?

There is no installation. A driver or depot staff member fits the kit in minutes, with no drilling, no wiring and no engineer visit. Your vehicle stays in service.

Is the kit transferable between vehicles?

Yes. One kit moves between coaches in minutes, so you equip the duty rather than the vehicle. If you sell a coach, the kit stays with your business.

What does PSVAIR actually require?

The regulations require audible and visible route information onboard in-scope services: next-stop and final-stop announcements, readable captions, appropriate sound levels and hearing-loop support. They also require procedures, staff training, testing and a contingency plan when equipment fails. Smartphone-only solutions do not satisfy them.

What are the PSVAIR deadlines?

The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 came into force on 1 October 2023. Compliance dates depend on when a vehicle was first used on a local service: vehicles first used from 1 October 2019 had to comply by 1 October 2024; vehicles first used between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2019 by 1 October 2025; and vehicles first used between 1 January 1973 and 30 September 2014 must comply from 1 October 2026, subject to the relevant exemptions and partial-compliance provisions. The exemption for rail replacement coaches ended on 31 July 2026, so these services are now in scope and operators taking on rail replacement work should be compliant from day one.

Does my pre-2014 coach need to comply with PSVAIR from October 2026?

Yes, in most cases. Vehicles first used on local services between 1 January 1973 and 30 September 2014 must comply with PSVAIR from 1 October 2026, subject to the relevant exemptions and partial-compliance provisions. If the vehicle is used on rail replacement work, it is already in scope, since the rail replacement exemption ended on 31 July 2026. The StarPal kit can be fitted in minutes without wiring, so older coaches can be brought into compliance before the deadline.

Is there a PSVAIR grant scheme?

Yes. The Department for Transport runs a grant for transferable audio-visual equipment on rail replacement coaches. It covers 75% of eligible equipment costs, capped at £2,000 excluding VAT per vehicle, from a £1.85m fund available while it lasts. Applications are made through find-government-grants.service.gov.uk. StarPal provides completed answers to the technical checklist with every order.

What is a PSVAIR compliance checklist?

To comply, an in-scope vehicle needs: audible next-stop and final-stop announcements at appropriate sound levels; a visible display showing the same information in readable captions; hearing-loop support; written procedures for when equipment fails; staff training; and regular testing. The StarPal kit covers the equipment items in one box, and we supply the procedure and testing templates for the rest.

What are the PSVAIR exemptions?

Exemptions are narrow and depend on the type of service and vehicle. The exemption for rail replacement coaches ended on 31 July 2026, so these services are now in scope. Operators should check the current DfT guidance for their specific service before relying on an exemption.

What PSVAIR system do I need for a coach?

For a coach on rail replacement or other in-scope work, you need an onboard system that delivers GPS-triggered audio announcements, a passenger display and hearing-loop support. Fixed systems are wired into each vehicle. The StarPal kit is a transferable plug-and-play alternative at £625 per coach after the DfT grant, fitted in minutes with no wiring.

What is the difference between PSVAR and PSVAIR?

PSVAR (Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000) covers physical accessibility, such as wheelchair access and lifts. PSVAIR (Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023) covers onboard audible and visible passenger information. A coach can be PSVAR compliant and still need a PSVAIR system. StarPal covers PSVAIR only.

How does the DfT grant work?

The DfT scheme funds transferable audio-visual equipment on rail replacement coaches, covering 75% of eligible equipment costs up to £2,000 excluding VAT per vehicle. Applications are made through find-government-grants.service.gov.uk while the £1.85m fund lasts. We have prepared the answers to the technical checklist for you.

Does it work for rail replacement work?

Yes, that is exactly what it was designed for. Announcements are GPS-triggered, so stops are called automatically on routes that change week to week. Kits can be moved between the coaches assigned to each duty.

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