UK train operator LNER is installing smart sensors to make it easier for passengers to find an available seat.

The smart sensors are being introduced across the Azuma fleet following a successful trial. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is installing more than 36,000 SeatSense sensors. The small devices will be fitted above all seats and wheelchair spaces and will detect and show instantly whether they are available or occupied, providing real-time updates.

This marks a shift from previous systems that relied almost entirely on reservation data.

LNER has partnered with Swedish tech company Sensative. The sensors use radio-wave technology with the results of the trial revealing more than 98 per cent accuracy. The sensors are cable-free and are powered by a single energy-efficient cell battery.

A further onboard enhancement designed to make journeys simpler for customers is the removal of the “May be reserved later” messaging on the Azuma trains. Seats and wheelchair spaces will now show either green for available, red for reserved or amber for when the seat is currently available but reserved later in the journey, helping passengers feel more confident when travelling with LNER.

“We’re incredibly excited to be introducing this highly accurate and innovative technology across our fleet of Azuma trains,” said David Flesher, commercial director at LNER (www.lner.co.uk). “The ability to provide this real-time information for both our customers and our colleagues is set to be a gamechanger for LNER and the rail industry. The sensors will not only benefit our customers, but they will also help us better forecast demand and ultimately support us in operating a more efficient and responsive railway.”

Johan Frilund, CEO at Sensative (sensative.com), added: “In strong collaboration with LNER, we have demonstrated that high-accuracy, battery-powered seat occupancy sensing can be fitted at scale, certified for rail operations and deployed across a live fleet without impacting service. The full rollout of SeatSense across the LNER Azuma fleet establishes a new reference point for how trusted, infrastructure-grade data can support operational decision-making while improving the customer experience.”