Stansted is trialling a ‘video ticket office’ to help passengers buy train tickets from the airport.
The new ‘video ticket office’ NextAgent, will provide passengers with the benefit of a walk-up ticket office that will connect passengers via a live video-link to an Abellio Greater Anglia ticketing expert.
While the NextAgent at Stansted Airport currently only sells magnetic tickets, the unit is capable of delivering all the functionality of a staffed ticket office, including vending a comprehensive range of media such as smart cards, magnetic tickets, paper barcodes, e-ticketing and mobile ticketing.
NextAgent can use the inbuilt camera for document validation if needed and share information with passengers to help them make their journey.
A wide range of UK destinations and train services is also available.
Jeremy Whitaker, head of commercial development at Abellio:
“We are pleased that NextAgent offers our customers another step on this door-to-door journey through this exciting innovation which will help people arriving at Stansted Airport to simplify the process when purchasing train tickets for their onward journey, with the reassurance of a member of staff on hand via the video link. We are delighted that customer feedback has been very positive. “
Roger Crow, executive vice president and managing director, CTS Europe:
“Abellio’s introduction of NextAgent represents a unique way to provide high-quality customer service and is another example of how we are bringing our NextAgent vision to life. The attraction of speaking to a person when buying a ticket is well known in the industry, but we also appreciate the economic pressures our customers face.”
About Abellio Group
Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. They provide rail, bus and tram services to 1.7m customers across the UK, Germany and in the Netherlands daily.
About Cubic Corporation
Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for public transit authorities and operators.
N.B. Image credit: cubic.com
