The objective of the Thameslink Programme is to provide twenty-four new twelve car train sets operating north south and crossing the river Thames through the central core of London.

The stations affected by provision of enhanced customer information systems within the central core of London are St Pancras which interfaces with Eurostar, Farringdon which interfaces with London Underground and eventually Crossrail, City Thameslink which provides direct access to the city and Blackfriars station which is located on a bridge over the Thames.

The aim of the project is to prevent localised platform overcrowding by providing large double-sided next train arrival and specific destination information screens at 40 metre intervals along each platform. With over 120 million passengers using Thameslink every year. The new customer information system allows daily commuters to move down the platforms, easily select the correct train and board with the minimum delay.

Linbrooke were engaged by Network Rail to work alongside the train operating company Govia Thameslink railway www.thameslinkrailway.com to produce a new and novel customer information solution that provides the maximum information in the shorted time in single screen format.

The solution was to use 32-inch and 42-inch Infotec screens operated by ATOS software. As trains arrive every two and half minutes the resultant display provides a diagram of all specific platform and train access points. Every journey calling point for the next train to arrive at the platform, along with the arrival time and destination of the next four trains clearly indicated. Beyond this, a further thirty minutes of future departure times, allowing passengers to catch the correct train that will take them to their required destination.

The new screen layout allows passengers to gain journey information at any point on the platform. Plan their journeys within a longer notice period to reduce crowding and urgency on the platform.