Stagecoach Group: 91 Video Ticket Machines now available at South West Trains to improve passenger experience

• 91 Video Ticket Machines now available at South West Trains stations across the network
• Part of the £50million investment to improve passenger experience
• Video Ticket Machines are linked 24/7 to a contact centre
• Helps passengers find the correct and best value tickets for their journey
• A further 84 ‘quick buy’ ticket machines are also being installed at many of the busiest stations

Perth, Scotland, 25-Jul-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — A network of Video Ticket Machines, which will make it easier for passengers to get help and find the best value fare for their journey, is now live on the South West Trains network.

It is believed to be first network of its kind in the country and is directly linked to a dedicated contact centre with specially trained staff who can offer face to face advice as well as remotely purchasing a ticket for the passenger if needed.

This is part of the £50million investment being delivered across the South West Trains network to improve passenger experience and also includes:

• 100 Customer Ambassadors in stations

• 1,400 extra car parking spaces

• New website and smartphone app

The state-of-the-art Video Ticket Machines offer many of the features passengers will already be familiar with, including pre-booked ticket collection and tickets for immediate travel. However, the screen also includes a ‘Help Me’ button, which a passenger can press at any time and be immediately connected to the dedicated contact centre in Basingstoke.

Staff can offer advice and guidance and, if needed, take control of the passenger’s screen and complete the purchase for them.

In addition, a further 84 ‘quick buy’ machines are also being installed at many other stations. These do not offer the video link but are smaller and designed to help passengers quickly buy and collect their tickets. As such, they will be located at the busier stations on the network, including London Waterloo, Clapham Junction, Southampton Airport Parkway and Basingstoke.

Arthur Pretorius, Customer Service Director for South West Trains, said: “We are delighted to be rolling out the UK’s first integrated and large scale network of Video Ticket Machines. They will significantly improve the experience of our passengers and provide real time guidance and help passengers make sure they get the best value fare for their journey, 24 hours a day.

“Any passenger who needs advice can simply press a button on the screen and be linked directly to a member of our team who can help, and if necessary, complete the purchase for them.

“This is a really important part of our £50million investment to improve a wide range of passenger experiences right across the network, which includes 100 Customer Ambassadors on platforms and in stations, a new website and smartphone app as well as 1,400 extra car parking spaces.”

The Video Ticket Machines have been supplied and fitted by Parkeon.

Owen Griffith, Managing Director of Parkeon Transportation, added: “We are delighted to see our IRIS® Video Assistance technology making a real difference to the experience of South West Trains’ passengers. We worked very closely with South West Trains and rail passenger user groups to develop a video-based system that is easy to use and provides face-to-face access to customer services precisely when it is needed.”

Video Ticket Machines are now available at the following stations:

Addlestone, Alton, Ash, Ash Vale, Ashford, Axminster, Bagshot, Bedhampton, Bentley, Berrylands, Bookham, Branksome, Brentford, Byfleet and New Haw, Camberley, Chandlers Ford, Chertsey, Chessington North, Chessington South, Chiswick, Christchurch, Clandon, Claygate, Cobham and Stoke d’Abernon, Cosham, Crewkerne, Datchet, Earley, Effingham Junction, Feniton, Frimley, Fulwell, Gillingham, Hampton, Hampton Wick, Hamworthy, Hedge End, Hersham, Hinchley Wood, Hinton Admiral, Honiton, Hook, Horsley, Hounslow, Liphook, Liss, London Road Guildford, Lymington Town, Malden Manor, Martins Heron, Micheldever, Milford, Mortlake, Motspur Park, Netley, New Milton, North Sheen, Overton, Oxshott, Parkstone, Pokesdown, Portchester, Rowlands Castle, Shepperton, Sherborne, St Denys, St Margarets, Stoneleigh, Strawberry Hill, Sunbury, Sunningdale, Swanwick, Sway, Templecombe, Thames Ditton, Tisbury, Tolworth, Totton, Upper Halliford, Virginia Water, Wandsworth Town, Wareham, Whitchurch, Winchfield, Winnersh, Winnersh Triangle, Witley, Wool, Woolston, Worplesdon & Yeovil Junction

SOURCE: Stagecoach Group plc.

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Stagecoach Group: 91 Video Ticket Machines now available at South West Trains to improve passenger experience