One of the UK’s Busiest Rail Hubs Transforms into a Showcase of Innovation in Intelligent Passenger Communication

In alignment with Network Rail’s commitment to improving customer communication, a new initiative was launched to enhance the delivery of travel information at stations. The goal: make information more accessible, relevant, and useful—especially during disruption. A critical requirement was to trial digital display screens that could fit within the footprint of traditional poster frames. This would reduce clutter and enable multiple messages to be displayed in a single space.

Key Requirements Included:

• Real-time travel disruption information in an easily accessible format

• Rainbow Boards showing route status across multiple Train Operating Companies (TOCs)

• Hardware capable of daisy-chaining power from a single source to multiple screens

• Flexible deployment in high-footfall areas

• IP65 compliance for durability and safety

L.B. Foster’s Response: Initially L.B. Foster deployed four Inform by L.B. Foster Digital Poster Boards, using a mix of 43” and 55” screens. Powered by the Inform Media content management system (CMS), these displays aggregate journey planning data from multiple sources, including industry messaging systems and LICC Tiger data from Worldline. The result is a dynamic, user-friendly interface that supports both live disruption updates and scheduled messaging.

When last-minute installation concerns arose due to wall structures, L.B. Foster designed and fabricated floor-standing mounts—delivered within the original project timeline. This agility ensured the trial could proceed without delay.

Following the success of the initial deployment, a further 16 Inform digital displays were installed at Reading Station, including:

• Inform Mobile Totems

• Inform Wall Mount TOUCH Screens

• Inform 43” Digital Posterboards

• Inform 55” Digital Posterboards

Transforming Passenger Experience: Inform Passenger Information Solutions provide wayfinding and travel confidence through:

• Live train information, updated in real time

• British Sign Language (BSL) Departures, improving accessibility

• Live disruption mapping, showing service impact zones

• Rainbow Boards, providing simplified visual service status

• Digital Poster Boards that deliver real-time content in a format that is easier to manage, update, and localise

• New Interactive Feature Coming Soon: Live bus times and timetables

These installations offer operators new opportunities to communicate effectively with passengers while reducing the operational burden of traditional poster updates.

We are delighted with the new Digital Poster Boards from L.B. Foster for Reading Station. They are a clear improvement on static frames they have replaced and complement the L.B. Foster totems that we already have. Being able to change content instantaneously, along with being able to add messaging during disruption, will enhance our passenger experience at Reading Station whilst reducing our paper output. David Bradley, Stations Transformation Insights Lead, Network Rail

Award-Winning Innovation: L.B. Foster’s Inform Passenger Information Solutions continue to gain recognition for their transformative impact. Recently, the technology was honoured as a finalist at the prestigious European Rail Cluster Innovation (ERCI) Awards in Milan—celebrating groundbreaking innovations in the rail industry.

ERCI connects 18 clusters across 17 countries, spotlighting pioneering technologies that are reshaping the future of rail travel, driving excellence in passenger experience, operational efficiency, and digital transformation.

In addition to European acclaim. L.B. Foster Inform Passenger Information Solutions have received multiple UK awards, reinforcing their reputation as a best-in-class solution for delivering real-time, accessible, and dynamic travel information across the rail network. You can read more about this in the second issue of Centrifuge, our biannual publication.

From major stations like Reading to future applications across tram networks and urban mobility hubs, Inform Passenger Information Solutions are setting a new standard for how transport operators engage with passengers—smartly, seamlessly, and sustainably.