Southeastern has launched SeatFinder and has become the first train operator in the UK to share train load data with passengers so they can find out what carriage capacity is like on their train to help with social distancing guidelines.
The new SeatFinder service is updated daily and uses train information from the previous week. The technology predicts the number of passengers on board by analysing the weight of a train. This means that passengers can plan journeys on any given day to see how busy it was previously.
SeatFinder is used at 93% of Southeastern's railway stations and will help those returning to the rail network after more people head back to work and school.
John Backway, Head of Retail at Southeastern said: “The next couple of months will see many people returning to the railway network as schools and workplaces try to get back to a new normal. During this period, many of our regular passengers will want to adjust their travel patterns based on government guidance, so we're pleased to be introducing this new solution to the rail sector that helps address this.
“Our teams at Southeastern have worked extremely hard to make the data available and accessible to help passengers plan their journeys and support social distancing to ensure they can be confident of a safe travel experience.”
The service will be rolled out more widely on Southeastern's app and journey planner website in September.
Southeastern is also looking into how SeatFinder can be used in other businesses in the region. For example, Ashford Designer Outlet could use the data to help visitors access whilst out shopping so they can plan how and when to travel home on Southeastern trains.
What do you think of SeatFinder from Southeastern? Let us know in the comments below!
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Worse than useless! Have spent the last 30 minutes trying to find train info. Issues: frequent ‘502 web server errors’, can enter destination station but my departure station not listed, shows ‘current’ times (circa 08:00) then next screen jumps to train for 22:00+ Have also loaded app and tried that; cannot find any journey related red/amber/green info for any train listed on ‘Live Departures’. I’ll come back in a year or two when ‘beta’ version is anywhere near close to working. Perhaps the publicists for this facility should work on the software as they clearly find it easier to over deliver….