IT services provider Fujitsu Services will continue to manage the Rail Journey Information Service (RJIS) for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) for the next five years, with a £13m extension of the contract.
Developed by Fujitsu in the 1990s, RJIS provides the timetables, fares, route planning, ticketing and transaction services needed to sell rail tickets and answer travel enquiry requests. As well as the 22 members of the ATOC, the IT system is utilised by the National Rail Enquiry Service, two online retailers and 500 other retailers of rail tickets.
Fujitsu says that it helps RJIS plan 80,000 rail journeys and respond to 820,000 enquiry requests each day. It stores millions of fares and processes one million transactions daily. It also manages over 300 million possible fare combinations, and supports around 1,600 ticket vending machines at stations across the UK.
Originally, Fujitsu has implemented a complete applications business system to bring ATOC’s legacy systems onto one single integrated platform. Under the extended contract, the company will re-fresh and update RJIS’ hardware and applications technology. It will also manage the RJIS database to meet the demand for ticket vending machine services.
Nick Chisnall, head of rail business at Fujitsu Services, said: “The enhanced user interface and strengthened Ticket-on-Departure system will contribute greatly to smooth operations in the National Rail arena, providing benefits to both train operating companies and customers alike. We are pleased to see this partnership continue to 2013.”
Fujitsu in the UK offers IT services and products across the public and private sectors. In August this year, it has equipped the UK Border Agency with the required technology to launch an automated border control system at Manchester International airport. The system enables passengers holding electronic passports and arriving through Terminal 1 at the airport to fast-track through immigration with no prior registration.