Thameslink passengers at London St Pancras will benefit from better information on seven new screens at the entrance to Thameslink's platforms.
After listening to passenger comments, Thameslink asked Network Rail to replace the four older screens so that more information could be provided.
This is most welcomed in peak times, when the old screens were not visible to those queuing further back.
Tracy Hall, Head of Customer Information for Govia Thameslink Railway, Thameslink's parent company, said: “Thameslink trains leaving St Pancras are together heading for as many as 124 destinations, and we needed six screens to show all of those at any one time if necessary. The screen display is also designed to show only the destinations that trains will reach within the following 90 minutes, so the information is always relevant for our passengers.
“The seventh screen is for the display of special notices and disruption information. This reduces the need for free-standing signs, so the gate-line can be kept clear of unnecessary clutter, another improvement for our passengers' experience.”
“The type of screen itself is the same as the screens that are in use on the Thameslink platforms to provide train service information and like those used in the interactive public information points in the wider station. However, the housing of these screens was designed in the style of customer information signs within the station overall.”
As the station is Grade I listed, the screens had to be approved by Historic England and Camden Borough Council. They agreed that the replacement of the old screens that were in place, the consolidation of the train service information and the wayfinding into a central bank of screens above the gates was ”a positive step and a visual improvement.”
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New information screens with real time information could be better than the older information screens. That can be reliable and could use less power with lots of information such as
Train departures
Trains on time or delayed/cancelled
Time and date
Weather
Platform numbers
Train formation
And many more useless information packed into these new information screens.