Virgin Trains has launched a global first in rail travel technology with its new Explorer app which helps customers on its east coast route navigate their way around stations to locate friends, shops and platforms. The app also enables real time automatic sign translation for international customers to read signs in their own language.
Planned updates include messaging capability, baggage tracking and real time travel data. Additionally, features which will enable independent navigation for the visually impaired, are planned for the future. These include audio cues guiding customers around the station, routing through optimum paths (e.g. lifts versus stairs), and location-based notifications, such as “you are on the right train”.
Virgin Trains’ Explorer app, powered by the Pointr indoor location software, is free for IOS and Android users to download, and launches initially at King’s Cross before rolling out to all stations on the east coast route later this year. The rail operator plans to use the initial roll out to gather customer feedback on the app, with further plans to integrate feedback into future updates.
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