New system reduces lost baggage
Today's baggage management is a fast paced and well-orchestrated affair that may involve several transport modes; changing from planes to trains for example. The logistics involved in getting baggage to the correct destination on time, especially when considering all that could interfere with the process, is enormously complex. A variety of European air and rail transport consortiums have designed a tool that greatly facilitates the improvement of baggage management systems. Operating under the acronym of EUROTRACS (European Traveller Care Services), the system hopes to introduce a variety of benefits. One expected benefit of the tool is that it aims to improve baggage management in the area of its "special needs" customers. From Olympic shooting teams to the elderly and disabled, specialised handling methods are required. The tool therefore provides user-orientated baggage handling solutions that are intended to reduce bottlenecks and other system glitches that may affect productivity. Another area of interest in which they hope to assist travellers is by providing them with decision support systems. Getting from a plane terminal to an interconnecting train platform, for example, can be a confusing task. By giving people the information support they need, prior to and during travel, they are more likely to enjoy their transit. There are other areas this tool addresses, but primarily they are all orientated towards improving the overall European travel services and standards. This system is in the development stage but the consortium is looking for marketing agreements.