Video: Improving Train Travel with a Custom Application System

Leading Rail Operator Streamlines Reporting, Saves Paper with Mobile Technology

France’s state-owned railway company, the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), runs more than 15,000 trains over nearly 20,000 miles of track, making it one of the world’s largest rail operators.

With 16,000 train drivers operating both passenger and freight trains in urban and rural settings, SNCF faces constant challenges of getting accurate, up-to-date reports from the field related to operations, schedules and safety. Before and after missions, SNCF drivers needed to fill out cumbersome reports in a matter of minutes – often resulting in errors and incomplete information.

On the right track with smartphones

SNCF’s employees knew they wanted to move to a mobile reporting solution that was faster, more efficient and compliant with safety regulations.

“They imagined a tool that would improve their work environment and were highly involved in its definition and implementation, with more than 400 drivers participating, from the first steps to the beginning of the rollout phase,” says Jean-Aimé Mougenot, former director of the SNCF train drivers’ human resources department.

CSC worked with SNCF’s team to introduce a custom-application system that enables train drivers to use smartphones to perform essential tasks such as checking planned routes, driving trains and filing daily reports.

France’s largest-ever mobile workforce project

CSC designed, developed and rolled out SIRIUS, a mobile solution that helps the railway improve operational excellence, agility, security and human resources management. It is the largest enterprise mobile workforce project in France to use only commercially available mobile devices.

CSC helped SNCF on every step of the project, from early business planning through the rollout, both in business consulting and technical issues. The CSC team’s role was to define, design and implement the solution, which is built around a Windows mobile HTC Touch HD smartphone kit, with a rough casting design to fit the train driver’s requirements exactly.

Improving train travel

CSC spearheaded the integration and rollout of the mobile solution, which included business change management, operational follow-up, backup scenarios analysis and developing a 24x7 help desk solution. With the new system, train drivers use custom-built smartphones to access trip-preparation information, such as a scrolling timetable.

Drivers can also track their train’s progress using GPS technology and tap into initially completed mission reports, which they can modify and file at the end of their journey.

Among the benefits SIRIUS brings to the railway are reductions in menial tasks and errors, improved distribution of route planning, and electronic processing of daily reports. SNCF has also reduced environmental impacts with less paper consumption since the solution was deployed. Drivers have also tested an enterprise social network.

“This solution takes us a major step forward in modernizing the train drivers’ activities, enabling them to better achieve operational excellence in what is becoming a more competitive and challenging environment for SNCF, all the while contributing to sustainable development,” says Mougenot.

With the improved operational excellence, agility, security and human resources management, SNCF considers this solution a strategic differentiator.