CIS Equipment.... More Than Just Screens

CIS stands for Customer Information System, effectively more commonly known as departure/arrival screens. Infotec is the company that manufactures most of these systems on trains and at stations around the UK - but there's so much more to these systems than meets the eye.... 

Expectations from customers are constantly expanding. As a result, UK TOCs must keep up with the trends to offer the latest information systems. This is vital to keep customers informed and advised with the latest real-time information....

Traditional CIS expectations: What time is my train due? Which platform? How many carriages? Where's First Class? 

Modern-life CIS expectations: Where can I purchase my low-fat mocha once I'm on the train? Is my seat reservation going to be honoured (or will I need to fight for it)? I've been too busy to check posters, so can I have an Engineering Summary now as I'm travelling this weekend? Even "I intend to know where to stow my bike without speaking to staff". 

As life hastens, it has certainly become apparent that TOCs are being kept on their toes when it comes to information provision. But it's not necessarily a bad thing, keeping up to the date with the latest technology/expectation trends is vital.... 

© INFOTEC DISPLAYS

Recently, Didcot Parkway had their new type of LED screen installed, as shown, to enhance the customer information experience. As you can see, white LEDs have been used rather than amber, and there's also the addition of symbols and graphics too - stating the location of each carriage, where the wheelchair/cycle spaces are, and location of First Class accommodation etc.

InfoTec said: "The first full-matrix platform display to be used on the UK rail network was sold to Great Western Railway and has been installed at Didcot Parkway in Oxfordshire. Together with the improved graphical presentation these combine to meet the expectations of today’s high definition, real-time full information-savvy customers."

Following the addition of these F-Series white-LED-screens at Didcot Parkway; Clapham Junction, Gatwick, Hadley Wood and Ilkeston have followed suit with this type of equipment. 

© INFOTEC / GTR / GREATER ANGLIA PR

Meanwhile, stations on the Thameslink and Crossrail Elizabeth Line network have seen the addition of upgraded CIS equipment, as well as at Cambridge and Cambridge North too on the Greater Anglia patch. 

As you can see, there's added clarity on these screens, it's in a layout which is understandable yet informative. Rather than just advising the customer though, it looks good as well.... Which certainly helps to create a professional reputation when it comes to information provision. 

And now C2C have decided to upgrade their own CIS screens too, including at Barking, East Tilbury, Southend, Thorpe Bay, Upminster and West Ham. 

They not only show the departure time, whether the service is on-time or delayed, its destination and calling pattern.... these screens also state the train will reach each station and how full each carriage is. 

© C2C / INFOTEC DISPLAYS. 

Well, these systems are not just useful for those who don't travel often but it's also useful for regular commuters too who wish to know where they can find a seat.... Without the need to walk through the carriages internally! 

InfoTec added: "Dozens of Infotec’s latest full matrix displays, together with standard as well as bespoke steelwork structures to support them, were installed on concourses, platforms, at station entrances and in waiting rooms on the c2c network in the autumn of last year.

Next train indicators, summary displays, single and double-sided wide aspect displays with clock and small two-line displays were all included in the order, placed with InfoTec by Telent.  

A FM28L display situated at the archway of West Ham station had originally been designed to display five calling points at a time in a list, but the high number of calling points meant that passengers would need to dwell at the foot of the stairs waiting for the page with their  destination to scroll around. 

To address this, Infotec has changed the list of single destination per line to comma delimited calling points, which means each line can include several destinations.

A second revision has seen the loading level information on all FM28L and FM42W displays enhanced to be even more detailed, with percentages updating in fewer steps."

Overall, you can clearly see that train operators around the UK are committed to improving the information systems offered to customers. As customer expectations expand, we question what's up next for what these screens offer?