Gomonews is reporting a story that 1000 conductors on Northern Rail trains have been given a new mobile information service, enabled by Vodafone UK – meaning that customer service is better as customers are kept informed of issues during their journeys.
There are apparently 2600 daily train services run by Northern Rail, so clearly anything that can alert about issues for the conductors is a big thing. The device chosen is a BlackBerry, which give access to live departure boards, and update info also.
I have to say, having done the “London” commute on the train for 12 months (I won’t say which train company it was….!), I would have given anything to know about issues coming up on the line, so I could have had the option to get off in advance and find another route home. Of course, if a train is stopped between stations, you are a captive audience, for a variable time period “X” …
Just think, if this system was implemented by the train company I have to use, we could know about all sorts of things like ‘leaves on the track’ – they stop trains you know 😉
Seriously though, Northern Rail deserve a pat on the back for being forward-thinking and using the best tech – mobile tech!
[Via: Gomonews]