New pilot enables passengers to hear live station announcements translated into their own language through compatible earbuds, headphones and hearing aids.
Passengers travelling through Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station can now hear live station announcements translated into their own language, as part of the first public demonstration of a new AI-powered passenger information system.
Developed by XRAI and Ampetronic, the pilot is currently being delivered through the Station Innovation Zone programme, led by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Network Rail. The solution combines artificial intelligence with Auracast™ — the latest generation of Bluetooth broadcast technology — to translate live public announcements and deliver them directly to passengers’ compatible personal listening devices. The pilot is intended to explore the potential of the technology and gather feedback on passenger experience.
Unlike traditional station announcements, which are broadcast in a single language for everyone to hear, the new system allows each passenger to receive the same announcement in the language they understand.
Initially demonstrated with English and one additional language, the platform can support up to 100 different languages, offering a glimpse into how future transport hubs could provide personalised information for international travellers.
Bristol Temple Meads is the busiest railway station in the South West, serving more than 10.8 million passengers every year. As the gateway to one of the UK’s most visited cities and the main rail hub for passengers travelling to and from Bristol Airport, it welcomes commuters, tourists, students and business travellers from across the globe. For many international passengers, understanding a last-minute platform change or service disruption can be challenging. By delivering announcements in multiple languages, the pilot aims to make journeys simpler, more accessible and less stressful.
The demonstration also highlights the growing potential of Auracast™, the next generation of Bluetooth broadcasting technology now being introduced across consumer devices. Rather than requiring dedicated hardware, many new smartphones, earbuds and hearing aids are already compatible with the technology, allowing passengers to receive personalised audio directly through devices they already own.
Dan Scarfe, CEO, XRAI, said:
“For more than a century, public announcements have followed the same model: one voice speaking to everyone at once. This project shows what’s possible when you combine AI with the latest broadcast technologies. Instead of asking every passenger to adapt to the announcement, the announcement adapts to the passenger.
“Whether you’re visiting the UK for the first time, travelling on business, or using compatible hearing technology, being able to hear important travel information in your own language has the potential to transform the passenger experience.”
Andy Rhodes, Testbed Manager, Station Innovation Zone at Bristol Temple Meads, and Brian Wortman, Senior Programme Manager at Network Rail, said:
“Every day, millions of people rely on our stations to get where they need to be, and clear, timely information is a vital part of that journey. As our railway welcomes more international visitors and increasingly diverse communities, we’re always looking for ways to make passenger information more accessible.
This pilot shows how emerging technologies like AI and Auracast could help remove language barriers and improve the travel experience, while giving us valuable insight into how these innovations could be applied across the wider rail network in the future.”
Alan Peters, Rail Director, Connected Places Catapult, said:
“One of the biggest challenges facing innovative SMEs is proving that their technology works in complex, real-world environments. The Station Innovation Zone was created to bridge that gap, giving companies the opportunity to trial new ideas in live railway stations while helping industry partners explore innovation with confidence.
It’s exciting to see this project build on last year’s successful Auracast trial, bringing together multiple innovators to demonstrate how AI and next-generation audio technology is helping industry partners evaluate innovation in real operational environments.”
Jonathon Hoskin, Business Development Manager, Ampetronic, said:
“Last year, we demonstrated how Auri™, our Auracast broadcast audio solution, could transform the way audio is delivered within a live railway station. This latest collaboration builds on that success by adding a new layer of intelligence through XRAI’s AI translation technology.
Together, we’re showing that the future of public announcements isn’t just about broadcasting sound—it’s about delivering information in a way that’s personal, accessible and meaningful to every passenger. We’re excited to see how this technology could shape the next generation of passenger experiences across transport networks worldwide.”
Public Demonstration
Members of the public are invited to experience the technology first-hand at Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station on Thursday 6 August between 10am and Midday.
Visitors will have the opportunity to hear live station announcements translated into different languages using Auracast-enabled earbuds and hearing aids. Demonstration devices will be available for those who do not have compatible equipment.
Interested in seeing it in action? Book your demo slot at the event today.
