-
more real-time data to support rail and tech industry
collaboration and to better inform passengers
-
intelligent travel apps to cater for passenger needs
door-to-door
-
action plan to be overseen by industry-led
taskforce
Train companies are to publish more real-time information to
enable tech firms to develop intelligent travel apps for the
future, under new plans announced today (8 August 2018) by the
Rail Minister and Rail Delivery Group Chief
Executive, Paul Plummer.
The aim is for closer working between rail and tech firms to
bring about more seamless, hassle-free journeys, and better
information for passengers on services and delays, as well as
seats and on-board facilities, like toilets and refreshments.
Better use of data could also allow rail companies to plan more
effectively and to predict and fix issues before they arise,
creating a more reliable railway.
Transport Minister said:
This will speed the development of travel apps that provide
passengers with helpful information about their journeys.
The government and the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the
rail industry, have today published the ‘Joint rail data action
plan’ which sets out the obligations and deadlines for
delivering on these ambitions, overseen by an industry-led
taskforce.
Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, Paul Plummer, said:
Technology gave rise to the railway, connecting Britain, and
the rail industry wants to channel this spirit to help produce
cutting-edge products and services that can be exported around
the world.
Digital technology in rail already means more timely
information and less time spent waiting, helping to put
customers in charge, and as part of the rail industry’s plan to
change and improve we want to use technology to give customers
more and more control.
Building on data that the industry has already made available,
data will be released over the coming months to provide more
consistent and timely information about train services, delays
and disruption. Information will also be made available on the
carriages that make up each train, enabling operators to more
accurately communicate on board facilities, and to help
passengers plan ahead and board in the most convenient place.
The plan will see the rail industry go further than this, by
identifying and removing barriers to better information sharing
by, for example, improving standardisation of how data is
collected, stored and published, and improving clarity over which
data is commercially sensitive and what data can be used for what
purposes. The government and rail industry will also explore what
incentives could be introduced to drive further innovation and
data sharing, on top of that already planned.
Improving how rail companies and tech firms work together
presents an opportunity for the UK to match its world class
expertise in emerging technologies and address the transport
challenges set out in the government’s ‘Future of mobility grand
challenge.
The next 10 years will see significant changes in the way we
travel and how we develop our transport infrastructure. This
includes using digital technology to make journeys on our
railways easier and simpler for everyone who wants to use them.
