CLEARER VISION AT LONDON WATERLOO

Thursday 21 Jun 2007

CLEARER VISION AT LONDON WATERLOO

Region & Route:: | Southern: Wessex; | Southern

Passengers at London Waterloo station will this month benefit from a £1m investment project to install a new customer information system. In a joint project by Network Rail and South West Trains, 63 new light emitting diode screens (LEDs) will replace the existing plasma screens by the end of June 2007. The displays will be larger, clearer and more reliable with improved readability. The screens will also be more environmentally friendly using less electricity and with a longer life expectancy than the plasma screens they are replacing. The screens will be positioned where the old style flapper boards used to be above the entrances to the platforms and one free standing display in the centre of the concourse. Wessex Route Director David Pape said of the project: "The new screens represent a significant investment to Waterloo station and will make a real difference to people's journeys. "This massive project, which has even involved abseilers at the station to remove the fittings from the old screens will also benefit passengers outside of Waterloo with the new system supplying real time information to display screens and PA systems across the Wessex route." Andrew Fairbank the Head of Stations for SWT commented: "The new customer information screens at Waterloo will be a welcome improvement to customers and have been positioned where the old displays used to be following customer feedback. "Through the use of new technology the displays are brighter and in addition to posting the scheduled services will also provide information on the fastest journey to the most popular locations."

Notes to editors

The screens adhere to the Disability Discrimination Act providing improved readability for the partially sighted. Yellow text on a black background offers the best contrast and all characters have properly formed tail endings. Furthermore the screens visibility will not be affected by strong sunlight as the plasma screens were.

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