If you’re on a train journey to an unfamiliar station then Virgin Trains has launched an app that’ll help you find your way around shops and platforms. The app delivers real-time automatic sign translation too, so if you’re coming to the UK from further afield, it’ll let you read signs in your own language.
Currently though, the app is only going to work at King’s Cross, so you’re a bit stuck if you end up anywhere else. Virgin Trains tell me that they’re rolling out to all stations on the east coast route later this year. The app will deliver baggage tracking, real time travel data and navigation for the visually impaired plus real-time positioning so you know whereabouts in the station you actually are.
Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn could try it eh? Ooo.. political..
Virgin Trains launches in-station navigation app
o Virgin Trains’ Explorer App marks a global first for the rail industry
o Launch features include real-time positioning and sign translation to help customers navigate in-station environment
o Navigation for the visually impaired, messaging capability, baggage tracking and real time travel data amongst future features
Virgin Trains has launched a global first in rail travel technology with its new Explorer app which helps customers on its east coast route navigate their way around stations to locate friends, shops and platforms. The app also enables real time automatic sign translation for international customers to read signs in their own language.
Planned updates include messaging capability, baggage tracking and real time travel data. Additionally, features which will enable independent navigation for the visually impaired, are planned for the future. These include audio cues guiding customers around the station, routing through optimum paths (e.g. lifts versus stairs), and location-based notifications, such as “you are on the right train”.
Virgin Trains’ Explorer app, which is free for IOS and Android users to download, launches initially at King’s Cross before rolling out to all stations on the east coast route later this year. The rail operator plans to use the initial roll out to gather customer feedback on the app, with further plans to integrate feedback into future updates.
David Horne, Managing Director at Virgin Trains on the east coast, said: “The launch of Virgin Trains’ Explorer app is another step forward in our mission to improve every element of our customers’ journeys. By offering an easy and accessible way to navigate stations we hope that our customers can enjoy all that stations have to offer. We are proud to be the first in the rail industry to bring this innovation to our customers and are excited about the potential future uses of the technology to further enhance our customers’ experiences.”
Virgin Trains on the east coast is committed to investing one per cent of its revenue in developing ‘new to UK rail’ innovation. It’s the first train company to set up an Innovation Fund and team, and the Explorer App is one of its first products.
