Fast track to business

Sep 24 2009 By Andrew Mernin, The Journal

INTERNET firm Nomad Digital has won the latest in a string of deals with international train operators and says it expects more overseas trade further down the track.

The Newcastle company has landed a contract with Norway’s national rail operator to install and run a high- speed broadband system on its trains.

The deal will see Nomad’s technology used by the government-owned operator Norges Statsbaner (NSB) on 280 of its trains, with a further 50 to follow.

The company will supply passengers with internet access, onboard entertainment including movies and will also allow future operational applications, such as the retrieval of CCTV footage and data on passenger numbers.

As well as major UK operations, such as Virgin West Coast Mainline and Heathrow Express, Nomad has built up an impressive list of overseas clients in recent years.

The company’s technology is in use on the US railroad, on the Dubai Metro project in the United Arab Emirates, in India and has conducted trials across Asia.

It has built up a strong presence across Europe and last year won a deal to provide Wi-Fi broadband access on buses in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

Nigel Wallbridge, founder and executive chairman of Nomad, said: "This is the first time that a national railway in Europe has installed an integrated IP solution for their trains which allows internet access, live passenger information, onboard entertainment and operational applications.

"We know that many train operators are very interested in what NSB has achieved and we expect to announce orders from other operators soon."

NSB, which serves more than 52 million passengers a year, has an agreement with Nomad for its rolling stock of more than 280 trains, and has ordered 50 new trains which will also be fitted with Nomad equipment and systems.

Passengers can now log on to a portal page for real time journey and key destination information as well as accessing the internet.

Nomad was chosen by NSB because of its experience of developing systems which allow a moving train to switch between a number of different mobile operators.

Its system is also well-suited to deal with Norway’s fluctuations in mobile signals and extensive tunnelled tracks.

Arne Vidar Hesjedal, NSB’s project manager strategy and business development said: "Choosing Nomad as a partner has enabled us to give our customers both the ability to connect and to entertain themselves, whilst travelling on long journeys.

"Nomad’s experience in the worldwide railway market has meant that they have consistently met all of our requirements, as well as being flexible and accommodating to our needs."