Case Study: Northern - Connected Video- and AI-Based Technologies

CASE STUDY NORTHERN: CONNECTED VIDEOAND AI-BASED TECHNOLOGIES

As one of the UK’s most innovative and forward-thinking rail operators, Northern’s ‘Digital Train’ programme aims to test, develop, and deploy the latest technologies which improve the passenger experience, enhance operational efficiency, and assure safety and security.

Through their long-standing collaborative partnership, Northern and Icomera have tested exciting new innovations such as a new Digital Video Management System (VMS), and AI video analytics.

A LONG-TERM DIGITAL PARTNERSHIP

Icomera has worked closely with Northern as its

In 2024, Icomera deployed its connectivity

digital partner since 2014 and has acted as the

platform on all 8 trains in Northern’s Class 769

primary technology provider and integrator for

fleet, in a project part-funded by the Rail North

Northern’s ‘Digital Train’ programme since 2016.

Partnership.

Icomera has designed, built, and supported a

The new onboard network supports a range of

range of connected applications on more than 260

connected applications, including Passenger Wi-

refurbished

throughout

Fi, digital video surveillance, and AI video analytics

Northern’s network; all centrally connected by

– All supported remotely by Icomera’s Network

Icomera’s powerful X-Series mobile Internet

Insights & Control (ICONIC) suite of cloud-based

connectivity platform.

software tools.

1

trains

operating

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR AI INNOVATION

Icomera’s design and engineering division, DG8, carried out the electrical and mechanical design and approval activities in tandem with Northern’s expert team of engineers at its Allerton TrainCare Centre in Merseyside.

The teams worked together closely to upgrade all 8 trains across the Class 769 fleet, improving the bandwidth capabilities of their onboard networks, strengthening their stability and resiliency for future innovation and extending the lifespan of the Northern’s team of engineers with a

trains.

C769 train (left to right): Scott Simpkin, As the area of AI is fast evolving, Northern and

Stuart Coombes, Adrian Willis, Garry

Icomera have designed a digital system that can

Heads, and William Edwards.

continue to evolve as technology advances.

A Northern Class 769 train at Bolton station.

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AUTOMATIC PASSENGER COUNTING (APC)

The internal and externally-mounted cameras on

The ability to effectively gauge vehicle occupancy

each train capture video footage in high definition,

levels, when shared, can also make it easier for

even in low-light and high contrast environments.

passengers to choose less noisy or crowded

When imbued with the right level of intelligence, onboard cameras such as these can support a wide range of use cases, enabling additional operational and safety functions which have historically required manual processes, or the use of disparate systems and devices, for example passenger counting.

environments to travel in, ensuring that they are comfortable throughout their journey.

“As the rail industry’s digital transition continues to accelerate, these applications can be combined with the passenger services we support to make every journey safer

and

more

time-efficient

for

Northern was particularly interested in assessing

passengers, as well as more cost-effective

the feasibility of such a strategy and using AI

for rail operators.”

technology to analyse anonymised onboard video for

Automatic

Passenger

Counting

(APC).

Icomera developed a sophisticated AI video analytics algorithm which was fully integrated with Northern’s APC business intelligence tool.

Together,

Icomera

and

Northern

have

demonstrated how using onboard digital video surveillance networks for APC can prove more effective than traditional sensor-based systems in both function and accuracy, while also reducing

The solution counted passengers with an accuracy rating of 98.3%.

This level of accuracy and speed of processing supports Northern in managing fleet and staff capacity planning.

An indicative example of how video-based APC technology works 3

the time and costs needed to install and maintain separate pieces of hardware and disparate backend systems.

The internal and externally-mounted cameras on each train capture video footage in high definition, even in low-light and high contrast environments.

Icomera’s Video Management System allows operators to monitor the movement of fleets in real-time.

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"More than 90 million people step on-board

“The onboard network on the newly

one of our trains every year and our fleet of

upgraded

Class 769 trains will now give us more

Northern with an exciting testbed for future

accurate data on passenger volumes than

applications of AI video analytics.

Class

769

fleet

provides

we’ve ever had before.

“As the rail industry’s digital transition “This joint collaboration with Icomera and

continues to accelerate, these applications

DG8 will help us to improve the overall

can be combined with the passenger

efficiency of our operations and can inform

services we support to make every journey

future service planning."

safer

and

more

time-efficient

for

passengers, as well as more cost-effective for rail operators.”

5

Jack Commandeur

Peter Kingsland

Engineering Director, Northern

SVP UK, Asia & Australia, Icomera

ICOMERA Odinsgatan 28, 411 03 Göteborg, Sweden T +46 31 799 21 00 sales@icomera.com