Northern Virginia commuter network improving safety, compliance, and operations through technology
Beloit, WI – MARCH 7, 2023 – Having led the way in passenger rail deployments at its operation of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Commuter Rail network, Keolis North America is extending the Comply365 mobile technology to its operation of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) network in Washington, DC and northern Virginia.
In 2021, Keolis deployed the cloud-hosted software provider Comply365’s innovative content management system and mobile app for train crews and other personnel across its Boston commuter rail operation. Keolis is continuing this digital transformation of transit services in partnership with VRE. Conductors and engineers will now rely on an application-equipped tablet to access critical operating rules, bulletins, special instructions, and other important documents they would otherwise have to physically carry.
“Moving to digital delivery of critical content will allow our crews to more quickly and easily access and search safety and operating procedures, rather than flipping through bulky paper,” said John Kerins, general manager of Keolis rail operations in Virginia. “The Comply365 platform will help us create a more efficient operation while further enhancing safety and compliance.”
Operating on two Class I railroads and Amtrak territory, VRE crews are required to be proficient in three completely separate sets of rules and operating procedures. By transitioning to a digital platform, crews will be able to easily search and identify applicable rules across territories, even where practices differ by host railroad.
Beyond the operational benefits, Keolis has seen printed distributions reduced by over 95% at terminals. representing both significant cost and time savings and contributing to Keolis’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
The rail operation will also be able to target and personalize the documents it distributes and automatically track compliance – providing an easier way to verify that frontline employees have read and understood important updates to rules and operating procedures. Comply365’s intuitive mobile app will enable crew members to quickly search and filter across all their documents, create bookmarks, and annotate important documents.
Comply365’s rail division includes several Class I, II and III freight customers, as well as passenger and commuter rail operators. Digital transformation has improved rail safety by simplifying the authoring, distributing and compliance of all content associated with operating practices. In addition to targeted content distribution, data captured in the field from electronic forms is contributing to greater efficiencies. Digital transformation has also introduced the automation of training programs to ensure new levels of safety.
“It’s a pleasure to expand the Keolis partnership and welcome Keolis’s operation of the VRE network to our Comply365 Community of rail users who are digitally transforming their operations,” Comply365 CEO Tom Samuel said. “We are excited that VRE crews will enjoy the benefits that come from the elimination of paper books and easier access to the operational content they need to safely do their job.”
VRE provides commuter rail service from Central and Northern Virginia to Alexandria, Crystal City and Washington, D.C. It operates 32 trains from 19 stations, carrying an average of 6,000 passengers daily.
ABOUT COMPLY365
Comply365 is the leading provider of enterprise SaaS and mobile solutions for content management and document distribution in highly regulated industries including aviation, rail, and energy. Comply365 supports the world’s most mobile and remote workforces with targeted and personalized delivery of job-critical data that enables safe, efficient, and compliant operations. Every day, hundreds of thousands of pilots, flight attendants, maintenance technicians, rail conductors and engineers, and energy workers rely on Comply365 for digital delivery of operational (OEM and company) manuals. Having played an instrumental role in the FAA’s approval of replacing the traditional, paper-based, pilot flight bags with electronic flight bags (EFBs), Comply365 partners with clients to transform their industries.
ABOUT KEOLIS
Keolis provides safe, reliable mobility services to millions of people every year. With the rider experience at the forefront, Keolis safely carries more than 121 million passengers each year on local, commuter, paratransit, and commuter rail services in North America. Keolis employs over 6,000 people throughout the United States and Canada. Additional information is available at www.keolisnorthamerica.com.
ABOUT VRE
The nation’s 13th largest commuter rail service, VRE connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. VRE is recognized for its provision of safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable transportation. Additional information is available at www.vre.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gina Duwe
Marketing Coordinator
Comply365
+1 608 313 1500
marketing@comply365.com
Keolis North America
Justin Thompson, Director of Marketing and Communications
+1 857.360.1177
Justin.thompson@keolisna.com
