Mobile technology on the train

Ypto manages the IT equipment that train attendants and drivers use on trains. For instance, all train attendants have a smartwatch with GPS and a smartphone to carry out various tasks. We also added a tablet to the dashboard in the train driver’s cab.

Smartwatch and smartphone for train attendants

With their smartwatches, train attendants can signal that the train is ready to leave. All they need to do is swipe. This signal is first sent to Infrabel, where they check whether the track is clear and whether the train is allowed to leave. If so, the signal is forwarded to the train driver. At that point, the message “Verrichtingen gedaan/Opérations terminées” (Operations completed) appears in the cab. The whole procedure takes only a few seconds, so it is much faster than the analogue procedure (which required train attendants to turn their key in a pole on the platform). This time-saving change indirectly improves train punctuality and is safer for train attendants, who can remain on the train to give the signal for departure.

In addition, train attendants can now use the Digital Train Attendant (a smartphone) to check and sell tickets, issue fines, report train defects, communicate real-time traffic and view their schedules, among other things. This smartphone replaces several bigger devices used in the past.

Tablet for train drivers

Train drivers use a tablet called eDrive. It guides them throughout their working day and makes various procedures much easier and more efficient. All the information they need is in one place and can be accessed in a few clicks, eliminating the need to search through various papers.

So not only is eDrive more user-friendly, it also saves 18 trees per year! As all documents have been digitised, train drivers no longer need to pick up a printed schedule from a central office. This also means they do not need to carry around 13 kg of books and folders in their backpacks anymore to check procedures and measures.