As part of my recent train trip to Whitby, I had the opportunity to make a flying stop in Doncaster and take a look around the station, and the passenger information trial by LNER, who manage the station, is pretty impressive. So I thought I’d write a brief blog post about it!
The digital displays installed on the platforms at Doncaster provide a huge amount of information to passengers, making the boarding process very efficient. Not only do these screens show the usual – the upcoming departures and platform information – but they also clearly indicate the layout of the carriages, highlighting where specific facilities like the café bar, bicycles spaces and priority seating are located, depending on the location of the display on the platform in comparison to the train.
This level of detail provided very useful to passengers, as it allows them to plan their ‘boarding strategy’ and ensure the find their reserved seats quickly and without any confusion. The screens, of course, also show the current status of the train, indicating whether it is running to schedule or not.
However, what’s crucial to this system supporting reduction in overcrowding and efficient boarding, is accurate information. A train can’t stop at the wrong display, for example, and technical glitches need to be kept to an absolute minimum to avoid platform chaos.
Overall, as someone who is quite passionate about quality, accurate and clear passenger information, I was happy to see this trial taking place at Doncaster. The investment in technology and clear focus on enhancing customer experience are exactly the type of initiatives that Enroute believes should be replicated across the network.
In conclusion to this short blog post, Doncaster’s passenger information trial is a shining example of how technology can be used to improve the overall public transport experience, and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing this system being rolled out to more LNER stations along the East Coast.
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