06.05.15
First Hull targets 2015 fleet-wide roll out of on-board PIS
First Hull Trains is aiming to roll-out the first on-board Passenger Information System (PIS) to use National Rail Enquiries’ Darwin system fleet-wide by mid-year.
The company is the first to be trialling the KeTech-developed PIS system, which provides a full suite of ATOC-approved real-time journey information, on one of its four Class 180s (unit 180109).
The KeInfom500 system, which has attracted much industry interest, includes 21" high-contrast displays in each carriage providing passengers with service information including Calling Points, Journey Progress, Next Station Departures (with platform numbers), Expected Time of Arrival and Delay Information. For trains travelling into London, Underground Route Service Indication (Rainbow Display) is displayed.
Other information provided includes live BBC News headlines, next station weather, safety advice and corporate information.
Phase one of the trial project, which is a collaboration involving First Hull Trains, ATOC, Angel Trains, Alstom, KeTech and Icomera, involved the fit-out of the Class 180 with one KeInform500 real-time PIS in each carriage.
Paul Wood, fleet manager at First Hull Trains, told RTM: “That means we have five screens in total.
“Stage two of the project will be to fit another screen in each carriage. It is a little more complicated on that end of the Class 180; there is a lot more engineering for actually holding the screen with the bracketing. So we have done what has been the easy end of the train, so far. We are now pushing to get stage two done by mid-May. That will then give us a complete unit.”
RTM was told that once stage two of the pilot is complete, and more passenger feedback has been collected, it is hoped that the technology will be rolled out across the entire First Hull fleet by mid-year.
Wood told us that by July, the partners would “probably have a package agreed and a plan in action”. He added: “I would certainly hope to see, later this year, the technology rolled out across the fleet providing everything is successful.”
He added that First Hull needed to be first to use this technology to improve the customer experience on-board its fleet. “And we’re looking at seeing it rolled out, not just at First Hull, but across the industry. It is the next big thing.”
To learn more about the KeInfom500 system and for the full interview with Paul Wood read the April/May 2015 edition of RTM which is now available for FREE using the new RTM App, available on iOS and Android. Search ‘RTM Magazine’ in the App Store / Google Play.