Transeo and iVistra on Journey into Rail
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – November 6, 2007 –Transeo, a new force in the provision of IS services to the rail sector, and
data visualisation specialist iVistra, are collaborating to develop and market a range of transport related systems
solutions including an innovative suite of packaged systems to support railroad operations.
Transeo and iVistra have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for iVistra to lead technology
development and visualisation innovation. Transeo will lead marketing, account management and sales, system
integration, implementation and project management, hosting and operation, support and service delivery.
"This strategic partnership will unlock the next major step forward in the development of class leading software for the
transport sector in general and rail in particular,” said Guy Mason, Executive Director of Transeo and EWS CIO.
“Information systems and services are increasingly central to the effective operation of international transport. As
customer expectations grow and data becomes ever more detailed and fast-moving, the transport sector needs to find new
and innovative ways of presenting and processing the information. The benefits of open access rail operations,
increasing competition and the growth in the long-distance movements of goods and people rely on the systems developing
at a pace to match the market. The comprehensive core Transeo product set, allied to iVistra’s leading visualisation
technology will deliver real efficiency gains for transport operators, a step change in service to shippers and
information for the traveling public that is timely, appropriate to their needs and presented through an innovative user
interface that changes the way it is conveyed.”
"iVistra and Transeo share a common desire—to allow transport operators to be able to better serve their customers
through increased visibility across their networks," said Craig Meek, iVistra chief executive officer. "Imagine being
able to see what’s happening in the rail network in real time, whenever you want to if you are a rail operator. And if
you are a traveler imagine being able to fly through the station on the internet to get the information you want before
you travel. These are just small examples of how having information represented visually will make things easier for
rail operators and their customers.”
The suite of packaged systems for rail will include consumer visualisation products for journey planning and timetable
disruption, including 3D visualisation of station facilities to enhance access to rail services. Products targeted at
the business side cover wagon and locomotive tracking and utilisation delivered as an advanced track and trace customer
web portal. The future also holds new innovation for touch screen application for call centre operators.
Transeo has a state-of-the-art technology centre in the UK and a presence in all key European markets, offering four
broad categories of product and service to key transport customers:
Infrastructure management – including desktop support, rail focused 24x7 service desk and application, server and
telecommunications hosting and management
Business process outsourcing and shared services – creating tailor made and standardised solutions for business
processes, based on leading software applications and expert process understanding
Rail specific application delivery – using Transeo’s own applications and partnerships with industry software suppliers,
Transeo deliver for key industry players
Consultancy and projects – tailored to rail and other transport customers requirements, and realising the benefits from
industry specific and generic applications of technology in the broader transport environment
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About iVistra
iVistra Technology is a technology solutions company that is breaking new ground in the development and implementation
of data visualisation solutions for the business market - turning data into pictures so an enterprise can see its entire
operation in a live virtual environment. In 2003, iVistra Technology developed Enterprise Visibility System (EVS™), the
first visual tracking application for business that puts real-time financial and operational information at the
fingertips of key decision-makers.
http://www.ivistra.com
About Transeo
Transeo, formed in 2006, is a strategic alliance between EWS, Britain’s leading rail freight operator, and Thales, a
leading international electronics and systems group serving aerospace, transport, defence and security markets
worldwide.
Transeo is a first in transportation, bringing together the systems and technology skills of Thales and the
transportation and systems know-how of EWS. Transeo offers customers a unique, specialist partnership in delivering
transport specific information systems, technology services and business process outsourcing. The alliance between EWS
and Thales delivers high value, low cost and sector-focused services to a broad range of transport customers.
EWS Holdings and Thales (through its subsidiary Thales Information Systems Ltd) are joint owners of the Transeo brand.
http://www.transeoalliance.com
About EWS
EWS is Britain's leading rail freight operators. Since EWS was formed in 1996, it has helped rail freight in Britain
grow by 60%.
Other companies owned by EWS Holdings Ltd, the owners of EWS, include EWS International, Euro Cargo Rail (a supplier of
rail freight services in France and mainland Europe), Engineering Support Group (a consultancy for rail engineering
solutions), Railway Approvals Ltd (a company that enables new locomotives and wagons to be approved for operation on
Network Rail's infrastructure), Marcroft Engineering Ltd (an engineering maintenance firm). In addition, Axiom Rail (a
supplier of maintenance, refurbishment, leasing solutions and suspension systems), EWS Construction, EWS Energy, EWS
Industrial and EWS Network which are trading and brand names.
EWS has taken a lead in the last five years in introducing new technologies and enhancing the application of systems to
the railway – and now operates an extensive European fully converged data and voice network, has developed
ground-breaking real time systems and extended the automation of business processes across the Group’s activities.
http://www.ews-railway.co.uk
About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group serving defence, aerospace and security markets
worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. Thales offers a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and
deploy critical information systems. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of € 10.3
billion in 2006, with a record order book of over € 20 billion.
http://www.thalesonline.com
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