Platform guidance: navigating travellers to the right carriage

For train travellers with special needs like bicyclists, people with reduced mobility or with a first class ticket, special carriages are provided. However, it is not easy for travellers to find the right carriage because the composition of the trains varies per trip. Because this causes delays and stress for travelers, the NMBS wants to improve information for travellers on where to wait on the platform. Nazka was contacted to look into solutions in a Proof Of Concept in the Brussels North station. We implemented the platform guidance app for use on smartphone and a digital screen on the platform. The app contains information about the composition of the next train with respect to the zones on the platform. This was possible by using OpenStreetMap data and connecting to the NMBS API. Moreover we designed posters to enable train travellers to test the app by scanning a QR code. This resulted in valuable lessons learned for the SNCB Innovation Lab. Sustainable mobility is one of the key themes Nazka is working on. Thanks to this project we are contributing to improve the accessibility of public transport.