UK rail operator Southeastern has announced it will begin
sharing train load data directly with passengers so they can see carriage
capacity before boarding and practise social distancing more effectively.
Called SeatFinder, the service – which covers 93 per cent of
Southeastern’s stations – updates daily using train loading information from
the previous week. The technology, which is built into many train carriages,
predicts the number of passengers on board by analysing weight. Carriage
capacity indicators will be set according to current social distancing guidelines
of 1-2 metres. According to Southeastern, this means customers can see how busy
their service was the last time it ran so they can better plan their journeys.
SeatFinder is available on live departure boards on the
Southeastern website and at stations, with plans to roll out the feature more
widely on the app and journey planner website in September. The company has also
made the data available through rail industry open data feeds so third-party
developers can integrate it into their own platforms. In addition, the
information will also highlight the type and status of on-board toilet
facilities to provide passengers with the status of handwashing facilities and
help those with disabilities determine which services are more suitable for
their journey.
John Backway, head of retail at Southeastern, said: “The
next couple of months will see many people returning to the railway network as
schools and workplaces try to get back to a new normal. During this period,
many of our regular passengers will want to adjust their travel patterns based
on government guidance, so we’re pleased to be introducing this new solution to
the rail sector that helps address this.”