The importance of an accurate train timetable can sometimes be overlooked. They are essential to help passengers get from A to B when they need to.
However, the days of the printed timetable displaying departure and arrival times are long gone. Most train companies have moved timetables online, but even this doesn’t always give passengers the information they want, when they want it.
Passengers expect to be able to access the information they need instantly in almost every part of their lives, so why should rail timetables be any different?
The time has come to rethink what the humble train timetable can and should deliver for passengers.
The evolution of train travel
There’s been a seismic shift in the way people travel in recent years. The growth of hybrid working can mean busier mid-week trains and less demand during peak hours.
A post-pandemic rise in domestic tourism has increased leisure travel too, especially on weekends, with more people going to events, exploring our cities and beauty spots by train.
What this means for passengers is that peak times are no longer so clearly defined, making it harder to decide when and how to travel.
That’s why train operators such as Chiltern Railways are using the RailSmart Trainset & Timetables (T&T) solution to provide more clarity for passengers and give the timetable a much needed makeover.
Give passengers real-time information
The introduction of of the interactive train timetables across the Chiltern Railways network has given passengers access to the information they need about what’s happening on trainlines and stations, on demand.
People get more detail about their journey so they can make quick decisions about when to travel or how to adapt their plans to avoid unexpected delays.
A passenger taking the Chiltern Railways service from Birmingham to Leamington Spa could go online to check real-time arrival and departure schedules and see which stations the train is expected to stop. Using the same timetable, they could look at how busy their preferred train is likely to be before they book their tickets too, as Martin Howard, Customer Relations & Customer Information officer at Chiltern Railways explains.
“We are rolling out timetables that display expected occupancy levels of each of the trains on our network. Passengers can see at a glance if their preferred route typically has plenty of seats, or if it’s usually standing room only. This means people who have the option to do so, can decide to take a different train at a quieter time, which reduces the load on busier routes for everyone.”
Improved accessibility
For passengers with additional needs there are accessibility options available in RailSmart T&T.
“PDF schedules published online can be difficult for passengers with additional needs to access,” explains Martin. “The solution enables visually impaired passengers to use any screen reader to narrate the text displayed on a train timetable so they can navigate a changed schedule or platform. Key details such as whether stations or platforms currently have a working lift or provide wheelchair access can be added too.”
“We have a fully managed timetable service, which means train schedules for the entire network can be drawn from industry systems and displayed exactly as we want them. There’s no need for our staff to manually share timetable information.”
Enhance service delivery while saving time and money
Train companies gain valuable insights from their timetable data, which can be used to continually improve services, such as reviewing which timetable changes would help to cut waiting times on popular routes or reduce overcrowding during rush hours to improve the passenger experience.
The system saves Chiltern time and money too. “We now only produce paper timetables on request for those passengers who prefer them, which has saved many hours and considerable cost,” says Martin. “This is time and money that can be invested in making our network more convenient and stress-free for our passengers.”
The future of rail travel
Traveling by train should be enjoyable and hassle-free for passengers. With RailSmart T&T, train operators can give people more information and control over how and when they choose to travel by train, encouraging them to hop on board more often.
