Great Western Railway is trialling technology aimed at providing its customers with real-time service information on trains and at stations.
The four-month trial with rail tech provider Whoosh allows passengers to scan at-seat or in-station QR codes to receive information relevant to their journey, including station details, onward journey planning and Welsh language options.
The trial is initially being carried out on three GWR trains, as well as at Patchway and Newton Abbot stations.
The technology also allows passengers and staff to input “contextualised fault reporting”.
The service is expected to be of particular use at stations without customer information screens – which are also typically unmanaged.
Edmund Caldecott, founder and CEO of Whoosh said that the technology “allows us to demonstrate the cost-saving opportunities for TOCs while improving passenger communication – and therefore customer satisfaction – too”.
Meanwhile GWR’s development manager, Mike Preece, said:
“We are pleased to collaborate with Whoosh during this trial period and look forward to seeing how travel technology can enhance communication with passengers across our network, helping to keep them informed and engaged throughout their journey.
“We are also excited to see how this trial could lead to innovative revenue opportunities and, most importantly, improved services for our passengers.”
