News

11 Virtual Assistants check in at UK's Network Rail

June 26, 2014

Passenger journey management technology firm Tensator has completed an order from U.K. railway network operator Network Rail for 11 more Virtual Assistants, via its rail partner TEW Plus. The order followed the successful introduction of Tensator’s first railway Virtual Assistant, known as "Louise," at central London’s King’s Cross Station in 2013.

Tensator worked alongside telecommunications and security systems integrator TEW Plus to supply, configure and install the units.

The King's Cross Virtual Assistant, which creates the illusion of a real person by projecting an image, has been advising travelers with heavy, awkward to handle baggage to use the lift rather than the escalator. During a six-week trial, the introduction of Louise saw an increase of over 260 percent in passengers using the lift, according to Tensator.

"Tensator Virtual Assistants can be customizable and used to relay health and safety messages, directions and general information such as station facilities," Ajay Joshi, Tensator's head of media and technology, said in a statement. "There is great potential for Virtual Assistants in the rail sector."

Six further Virtual Assistants have now been placed at various locations throughout King's Cross Station to deliver directional and safety messages whenever they detect movement in the immediate area.

Two Virtual Assistants will soon be introduced at St Pancras, another central London railway station, while a further three will soon be helping to improve health and safety at Leeds Station.

"We foresee a multitude of applications in the industry," Neil Sheffield, a director at TEW Plus, said in a statement. "We expect our relationship with Tensator to be a strong and fruitful one over the coming years as more Virtual Assistant systems are developed and implemented in various rail environments."

London Bridge and Birmingham New Street stations will be trialling Virtual Assistants soon, Tensator said.