Virgin Trains is to equip train drivers with handheld computers to improve customer service and reduce the company’s environmental impact.

Over the next three months, Virgin’s 500 drivers will receive Vodafone-supplied PDAs to replace paper-based documentation such as technical instructions and training materials.

The savings generated from the reduction in printing will offset the investment made in the devices, said Andy Cross, business support director at Virgin Trains.

“The main opportunities of using the PDAs reside in taking a vast amount of paper out of the system and no longer having to print so much material, which translates into savings that can be re-invested into the business, as well as a reduced carbon footprint,” he said.

Virgin Trains also hopes the initiative will help improve operational efficiency, as information such as station closures or maintenance works will be instantly transmitted to the devices and ultimately improve the quality of information relayed to passengers.

“Managing information that is essential to drivers working from 4am until midnight, seven days a week can be a bit of a logistical challenge if you are using a paper-based system,” said Cross.

“Using the devices will help us deliver a lot more timely business performance data.”