Northern Rail uses mobile technology to improve customer service

Over 1,000 conductors given the latest travel information on their mobiles

A new mobile information service, enabled by Vodafone UK, is delivering real time, detailed journey information to over 1,000 conductors on Northern Rail trains, improving customer service by ensuring customers are kept better informed throughout their journey.

Northern Rail’s investment gives train conductors working across the 2,600 daily train services access to more detailed service information from the control team and allows them to communicate with each other more effectively, for a flat monthly price.

Train conductors will now have access, through their BlackBerry to live departure boards, giving up-to-date information on onward connections.

The partnership between Vodafone and Northern has provided devices to more than 1,000 Northern Rail conductors based across the north of England, serving an overall population of 15 million customers. Following the success of an initial 12-month pilot scheme, Vodafone and Northern worked closely to deliver a tailored solution which included training and set-up for every conductor.

Vodafone and Northern will continue to work together to extend the solution to mobilise delivery of internal processes such as train crew rostering, overtime and holiday requests.

Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern Rail, said: “Our partnership with Vodafone will make a real difference to our conductors and customers. By providing conductors with cutting-edge tools and full training, they’ll be able to get the most out of the device to help customers. This new scheme will revolutionise how we communicate with our front line staff and managerial teams and will allow us to deliver a consistently high level of service to our customers.”

Peter Kelly, Enterprise Director, Vodafone UK said: “The new solution will allow Northern Rail conductors to interact directly with the most up-to-date information available, a key advantage in providing a responsive and efficient service to customers.”

For further information on Vodafone mobile working please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk/mobileworking

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About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK has 19 million customers and is part of the world’s leading international mobile telecommunications Group, offering a wide range of voice and data communications. The company is committed to providing mobile solutions that allow both consumer and business customers to make the most of now. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in 29 countries and offers great roaming value with Vodafone Passport. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.uk .

About Northern Rail

Northern Rail is the biggest train operator in Britain, providing 2,500 local and regional train services every day across the north of England, serving a population of nearly 15m. We are now carrying 84 million passengers a year, 32% more than when we started our franchise in December 2004.

Northern Rail is owned by Serco-NedRailways, a joint venture established in 2002 that combines Serco’s world-class service credentials and NedRailways’ unrivalled rail industry expertise. Serco has run the highly successful Docklands Light Railway since 1997 while NedRailways’ parent, NS Dutch Railways, carries over 1.1 million passengers every day in the Netherlands.

For further information please contact:

Vodafone UK External Communications

+44 (0) 1635 666777

Email: ben.taylor {at} vodafone(.)com or vodafone {at} harvard.co(.)uk