Northern have began using artificial intelligence (AI) to count passengers on some of its routes.

The train operator has deployed an Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) algorithm on its fleet of eight Class 769 trains, because tests have shown a 98% accuracy.

Part-funded by Rail North Partnership, the project involves Northern and its technology partners, Icomera and DG8. It is based at Northern’s Allerton Train Care Centre on Merseyside.

A team of 15 specialist engineers have adapted software in the class 769 trains to incorporate Automatic Passenger Counting and installed 88 cameras and 8 computers using 5km of cables.

The Class 769 fleet, stationed at Allerton, runs on routes connecting Liverpool, Manchester, Southport, Wigan, and Blackpool.

The purpose of the project is to harvest accurate data on passenger usage, to help increase operational efficiency and to enable effective future service planning. It combines video analytics and artificial intelligence to determine the numbers and direction of each actual passenger movement.

Icomera is a world leading provider of integrated connectivity solutions for trains, trams, buses and coaches.

DG8 is a division of Icomera that specialises in industrial design and engineering and has a wide history of delivering innovative projects for various UK rail operators, as well as Network Rail.

The Rail North Partnership is a collaboration between Transport for the North and the Department for Transport to manage the Northern and TransPennine Express rail contracts.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to over 500 stations across the North of England.

The on-board network on the newly upgraded Class 769 fleet provides Northern with an exciting testbed for future applications of AI video analytics.

As the rail industry’s digital transition continues to accelerate, these applications can be combined with the passenger services we support to make every journey safer and more time-efficient for passengers, as well as more cost-effective for rail operators.

Peter Kingsland, Icomera’s senior vice president in the UK