Transport for Wales has had augmented reality maps or AR maps created of its biggest stations as part of a bid to increase customer confidence when using the rail network.

The maps will aid people who are nervous about travelling by train for the first time or those with mobility issues and will support finding key locations within stations, such as:

• Customer information screens
• Lifts
• Toilets
• Help points
• Waiting rooms

The innovative maps have been created by smart spaces tech company Briteyellow.

The maps can be found here, for the following stations:

• Cardiff Central
• Cardiff Queen Street
• Newport
• Chester
• Shrewsbury
• Pontypridd.

Michael Davies, Insights and Innovation Manager at Transport for Wales said: “These maps will enable customers to plan their journey through the station prior to their visit.”

“It’s really a great step towards improving the experience and accessibility needs of our customers, and I’m looking forward to seeing it develop further.”

“It’s been fantastic to continue to work with the Briteyellow team, who were part of the first group to take part in the Lab by TFW innovation accelerator programme.”

Briteyellow submitted a solution which would improve communications regarding available station facilities to the Lab by TfW programme.

Following the submission, the company has gone on to receive funding via Catapult Connected after it won the Department for Transport’s first Accessibility Transport Research and Innovation Grants Programme, where it was awarded up to £120k in funding.

The AR maps offer customers the opportunity to easily locate and interact with rail staff members, reducing stress levels for passengers and encouraging self-service.

Since the AR map’s initial submission via the Lab by TfW programme, which aims to accelerate innovation, the concept has now been developed into the BriteWay-XR app, which is currently in the stages of customer testing.

The company has also recently won the Design Age Institute Transport Pathfinder Innovation Programme which will see the app’s functionality re-designed to improve inclusivity and ease of use.