Virgin Trains has introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) at Oxenholme station, making it the first station managed by Virgin on the West Coast Main Line to adopt the technology.
Designed to make end-to-end journeys more seamless, the technology, which reads vehicle number plates, will improve the journey experience for people travelling to and from Oxenholme by car – saving time entering and exiting the car park, where car park barriers were previously in place; and removing the hassle of having to pay for parking after travelling by train.
The new system provides more options for payment at the parking payment machine, including card, Google Wallet, Apple Pay and cash and can be done before or after a train journey.
Payment can also be made online at parking.virgintrains.co.uk – where regular customers can create an account or purchase a Car Park Season Ticket.
The launch of the technology follows the introduction of pre-bookable parking at the station, and work by Virgin Trains and Network Rail to create additional spaces in the lower car park.
Louise Fairclough, Virgin Trains Station Manager at Oxenholme, said: “Parking is important to our customers, many of whom travel to the station from remote areas by car, and the introduction of ANPR will improve the experience for people travelling to and from Oxenholme station. The technology is user-friendly – it saves time getting in and out of the car park and provides more flexible payment options, making end-to-end journeys more seamless.”
