New Customer Information Systems

[whole diary]

[TheLastMinute]

Anyone wishing to hear this classic error can do so from the comfort by their homes, by calling 01793515888 and entering 3237 at the tone (this is the phone number that the help points call).

Got the codes for all the other stations?.....Can you post as a word doc attachment maybe?

It looks like it's just the 4 digit National Location Code for the station, the NLC^▸ (National Location Code) for Keynsham being 3237. There's a comprehensive guide to NLCs (plus CRS, TIPLOCs and STANOX codes) at http://deaves47.users.btopenworld.com/CRS/CRS0.htm. To get the 4 digit code, just take the "00" off the end of the NLC given on the site.

Cheers
TLM

[James Vertigan]

Doesn't seem to work for every station on that phone line using the codes provided on the website - just tried Acton Main Line and Tiverton Parkway and it said the information was unavailable.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Have those two stations had Help Points installed? Maybe the phone number is only activated when the Help Point actually goes live?

[James Vertigan]

Have those two stations had Help Points installed? Maybe the phone number is only activated when the Help Point actually goes live?

Yes, both of them have Help Points installed (although TVP never had help points until the new systems started going in). At last check AML's was working. I'm wondering, perhaps this phone line system (as described above) is only for those with the automated "next train" information service - as I'm sure when you used the help points at AML it always went through to Plymouth (or India) - at least it used to!

Speaking of AML. I think the new CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) system is pretty much up and running now. Certainly not seen any Telent activity since I came back from my holiday.

Since I came back from holiday we now have working information screens on both platforms (although the one on platform 4 - where the picture I took of the bare blue stand a few weeks ago - is in the style of the departure screens at Paddington ) They seem to have also left behind the old non-working matrix display on Platform 4 - whether they'll replace it with one in the same style as that on Platform 2/3 I don't know, considering there's this "next train" indicator on P4 already.

The departures list screen by the ticket office is also up and running, although this afternoon was only displaying "Welcome to Acton Main Line"...

We also now have announcements again - with male announcements on one platform and female on the other - I forget which is which at the moment - I think we could probably do with either having the volume turned up or a few more speakers though as they're not very loud unless you're standing right next to the speakers.

So, I don't know whether this station is listed as "complete" or not yet - IMO^▸ (in my opinion) they still have one or two things to do to finish the job, as listed above!

[adc82140]

I can only get Keynsham to work on the phone. Have tried Farnborough North, Guildford, North Camp, Twyford, Bath Spa, Salisbury- all give the "no information is available" message.

[Brucey]

Redland and Clifton Down work.  I think only stations with the new style of help point are available on this number.  There is a previous thread about this number (which I where I found it).

[Chris from Nailsea]

Have those two stations had Help Points installed? Maybe the phone number is only activated when the Help Point actually goes live?

Yes, both of them have Help Points installed ... perhaps this phone line system (as described above) is only for those with the automated "next train" information service ... 

Yes: sorry, that's what I meant.  My understanding is that it's only an installed 'next train' button that connects to the Swindon 01793 number. 

[IndustryInsider]

Didcot Parkway has now been fitted with the new CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) screens.  Large LED style displays on the platforms which are much better than the old CRT^‡(resolve) monitors, especially on platform 3 where the monitor was kind of hidden away, but the LED display is in a prominent position and facing both ways.

[mjones]

Yes, and I noticed something a bit odd on Friday morning: I was waiting for the 0755 from Cheltenham, which was showing as 5 minutes late, then suddenly, just before 0800, the display switched to showing the 0801 as the next train, which is what arrived. I assume the trains didn't pass each other at Wantage, so the order of their arrival must have been known for nearly 20 minutes beforehand when the first train left Swindon. Is there still a manual process involved in updating the screens?

[ChrisB]

Theres bound to be when delays affect order of trains along a route

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, and I noticed something a bit odd on Friday morning: I was waiting for the 0755 from Cheltenham, which was showing as 5 minutes late, then suddenly, just before 0800, the display switched to showing the 0801 as the next train, which is what arrived.  Is there still a manual process involved in updating the screens?

Staff can make a limited amount of manual entries.  When two trains are due at practically the same time due to one (or both) being delayed, the system will often get it the wrong way round.  For example at Oxford if a late running XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service passes Didcot 10 minutes late, but is then stuck behind a terminating stopper, the system won't automatically add five minutes to the delay so it is shown arriving after the stopper, it will just show 10 minutes late and slowly increase that before (usually when it is entering the platform) changing to show the terminating service as the next train.  To build in a feature where it did estimate the delay based on other trains would probably be beyond the expertise of the programmers as there are so many variables.

So, unless there is a manual amendment by the station staff, which they often haven't got time to do, then you'll find last minute alterations to the running order quite commonplace.

[Louis94]

Can report Tiverton Parkway and Pewsey both have new screens and PA^▸ (Public Address) speakers on both platforms, both of these are double sided, which is much better as the up screen at Tiverton only used to be single sided! Am unable to say as to whether the PA system has changed over yet - can anyone advise? Plymouth is due to have its new screens and PA speakers fitted over the next fortnight.

Does anyone else know if any other HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations have any new screens fitted onto the platforms? (Ex. Didcot Parkway)

[bobm]

I was at Reading the other day when the display screens updated to show a revised order for incoming trains - however it seemed just to switch over - on the old system the screen used to go blank and flash "Correction" a few times before updating which drew your attention to it more.

[Super Guard]

"New" announcements now at Reading 

Reading screens also show "Arrived" under the "Expected" column when the train rolls in.

Also new PA^▸ (Public Address) announcements are active at TVP.

[Louis94]

Totnes now has new CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) Screens and the new PA^▸ (Public Address) installed. Anyone got any reports of any new screens being installed elsewhere on HSS^▸ (High Speed Services)?