New Customer Information Systems

[whole diary]

[Louis94]

I assume that's the version seen here with the inbuilt departure screen rather than the standard two button versions? I think I read somewhere (but can't remember where) that these are to go into the larger small stations without a CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) e.g. Clifton Down. To be fair, I would think that these units would cost a lot less than installing a full CIS and still give a good level of functionality.

Cheers,
Mike

Would make sense to install them in Cornwall and on the Cotswold line, mainly because of the the manual signalling, the full CIS would not operate to its full ability, we shall have to wait and see!

Does anyone know how many stations are due the full CIS and what are they?

[ChrisB]

There is a (long) list - just about every station is getting something....

[Louis94]

There is a (long) list - just about every station is getting something....

Basically they are copying SWT^▸ (South West Trains) then! They have something at every station!

[ChrisB]

Probably following best practice - both of them!

[Brucey]

Stations on the SVB Line have been kitted out with these CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) for some months now. A couple were stolen soon after installation though!!!

The two at Redland and Montpelier were stolen in February.  I believe that in their current design, the units aren't fit for purpose.  They are easily stolen (as proven) and also easily damaged (the screens were regularly scratched or covered in graffiti).  The best solution would be overhead screens (like the sort of thing they have at most larger stations, e.g. Temple Meads) hanging from the canopy (where available) which are contained in some sturdy cage to prevent damage and theft.

[ChrisB]

And three times the price - which is why they weren't put in....

[JayMac]

And you would still have needed the basic non-screen model with information an emergency buttons.

[Nibat]

Ok, here goes the answer:

- The two button pill style helpoint costs ^2,500 before installation
- The same with the screen costs ^7,500 before installation

Not bad specially when you consider it's just a mobile phone with a speaker!!!

Most station are receiving something.  The people that are installing it told me that they haven't seen any with the screen yet, apparently FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has not paid for them or approve the final design, yet.  And, to be honest, nobody seems to know what are they installing where...

[JayMac]

Here's one that was installed at Shirehampton. Not working after local scrotes had had a go at it:



So what's this about the final design not being approved?

[Nibat]

The helppoints with the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) screen were installed as a trial.  As far as I can remember, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) installed 3 different models in several stations: the one you mention, a different model at I think Ivybridge, and a third model I think at Saltash (not sure about the stations, I might be wrong as I haven't had the chance to see any of them).

There are also another two models: the one with two buttons (emergency & info) and another one with three (emergency, info & next train announcement).

Talking to the installation gang they told me that at the moment the only system they have installed is the one with two buttons, they haven't installed or seen any of the webCIS ones yet as Network Rail has not aproved them.  Network Rail has only passed the two button pill, none of the others at present, so nobody in the country has them (apart from the trial ones, of course).  Network Rail is meant to aprove them as they will keep them as owners of the stations, as well as paying some of them.

Sorry if I had it wrong earlier, I made a small mistake.

[Oxman]

First, the pilot systems at Slough and Oxford were linked into the existing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) servers - it was the quickest way of upgrading these stations. AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), a separate decision was subsequently made to replace the three CI systems in use by a new one - the ATOS system. For Slough and Oxford, this means a change of the central server that drives the system - the hardware at the stations will not change, although the look and content of some of the screens might. The ATOS system is said to offer more features, so there might be a further improvement.

Second, I understand that there has been a contractual delay in installing the WebCIS help points (but not with Network Rail), but this has now been resolved and installation should proceed apace. There is one installed somewhere - Shiplake possibly?

I'm not sure what the criteria were for deciding which unit should be fitted, but I am aware that support from Oxfordshire County Council means that most, if not all, stations in Oxfordshire will receive WebCIS units. Trial units were also installed at Hanborough and Radley.

[Louis94]

First, the pilot systems at Slough and Oxford were linked into the existing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) servers - it was the quickest way of upgrading these stations. AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), a separate decision was subsequently made to replace the three CI systems in use by a new one - the ATOS system. For Slough and Oxford, this means a change of the central server that drives the system - the hardware at the stations will not change, although the look and content of some of the screens might. The ATOS system is said to offer more features, so there might be a further improvement.

Will this mean a change of Voice on the PA^▸ (Public Address) announcements, or will that stay the same?

[inspector_blakey]

I would guess not, but in plenty of stations there is more than one voice used anyway. One example among many is Oxford, where a male voice (Phil Sayer) announces up trains, but a female voice (Celia Drummond?) announces down trains.

[TheLastMinute]

I'm pretty sure that SWT^▸ (South West Trains) use Phil & Ceilla on their Atos system so I'd guess FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would use them as well.

[Louis94]

I'm pretty sure that SWT^▸ (South West Trains) use Phil & Ceilla on their Atos system so I'd guess FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would use them as well.

Well its not just SWT who use the Atos system, 1 or 2 of the other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) who use the Atos System, have Sarah, the same as at Paddington.

I would imagine they would keep Phil and Celia though, being that FGW seem to like to be able to have 2 voices in use at one station, and also the fact they use them at their HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations.