UK: Bristol Temple Meads station has been selected as a Station Innovation Zone which will host trials of technology to improve the passenger experience.
The five-year partnership between Network Rail and the Connected Places Catapult innovation accelerator will select start-ups to test ideas such as smarter ticketing, wayfinding apps to make stations more accessible, the use of AI to improve people flow and human-centred design principles.
‘Innovation is tough in any industry and rail is especially hard because of the number of assessments and permissions required’, said Nicola Yates, CEO of Connected Places Catapult. ‘The net effect is that it takes too much time and costs too much for most small businesses to engage. Partnering with Network Rail to create a multi-year Station Innovation Zone in Bristol’s vibrant Temple Quarter will enable us to support numerous small companies in navigating these challenges and benefit passengers’ experience of the station.’
Expansion to more stations is planned.
