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Hi-tech mobile ticket machine could be real star
Nick Cummins, a Conductor on the Cardiff Valleys network, with one of the new STAR mobile ticket retailing systems which will soon be trialled at Treherbert depot. Inset, a bar-coded ticket produced by the lightweight thermal printer.
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RIALS are due to start soon at Treherbert depot of the new STAR mobile ticket retailing system which is easy to use and flexible. Developed by Fujitsu, the lightweight devices will issue paper bar-coded tickets in a rail industry first. For the pilot, on-train staff based at Treherbert will use specially equipped Samsung Galaxy S5 handsets to sell the bar-coded tickets after the company awarded Fujitsu the contract to replace the life-expired Avantix. The kit set also incorporates a lightweight thermal ticket printer and an improved card reader which will be capable of carrying out online transactions, thereby bringing improved protection from card fraud. Ian Hughes, the Arriva Trains Wales STAR Mobile Project Manager, said:“We’re delighted that the multi-million pound deal signed by Arriva Group last year is now bearing fruit. “This project represents the largest capital expenditure this
year for Arriva Trains Wales and has been shaped by the very positive and helpful contributions from our team members. “With the pilot being at Treherbert, it means that the Arriva Trains Wales business will be shaping the way for our Group through to implementation.” During the pilot phase the project leaders will evaluate progress on a daily basis and report their findings to Fujitsu so
they can fine tune the software. Employee feedback will be invaluable during this time and will ensure the company gets the very best from the equipment. Feedback from training sessions has been overwhelmingly positive with the lightweight handsets, the intuitive system and its flexibility all being praised. “Customers will see changes in the type of ticket they receive
and that it will need to be scanned to be checked,” said Ian. “Scanning the tickets will ensure they can’t be re-used so it will be really important this is done. Customer information is ready to go out the minute the trial date is announced.”
New absence system will provide even more support MORE support for employees who fall sick will be available thanks to a new absence management system coming soon at Arriva Trains Wales. It will be easier to report an absence because people only need to make one call, and they are guaranteed a call back from a manager. Under the Absence Manager
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ASPECT Spring 2016
programme, employees phone in if they want to change their expected date of return and also to close their absence when they come back to work. The system is set to provide Arriva Trains Wales with real-time absence data and this will help the company plan to better support employees’ health and wellbeing. Communication
with absentees is improved and absence trends can be tracked. To report absence, colleagues will be able to call a designated phone line giving their employee number, reason for absence and the start and end date. A return call from the manager will allow them to discuss the absence and any related issues.