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Digital signage waiting at the station along Toronto's new Union Pearson Express train service

X2O Media's digital signage platform is driving a network of displays for thousands of travelers on the Union Pearson Express, Metrolinx's new express rail train that now connects Canada's busiest transportation hubs — Toronto's Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport

September 29, 2015

X2O Media, a Barco company, announced today that its visual communications and digital signage platform is driving a network of displays providing important information to thousands of travelers on the Union Pearson Express, Metrolinx's new express rail train that now connects Canada's busiest transportation hubs — Toronto's Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport in just 25 minutes, departing every 15 minutes.

According to the announcement, the display network is an essential component of the new Union Pearson Express train service that just opened on June 6, just in time for the Pan Am and Parapan Am games.

The X2O platform powers approximately 80 display screens across all four stations along the Union Pearson Express route. The networked screens display multiple real-time data sources to inform travelers when the next train will arrive and which track will be used, supply up-to-date flight information, and provide the latest news and weather.

"X2O is thrilled to be part of this innovative air-rail link, which provides passengers with a convenient way of getting into the city and to the airport," X2O Media President David Wilkins said in the announcement. "Our visual communications platform gives the Union Pearson Express service an incredible amount of flexibility in its messaging, as well as in its ability to provide consistent access to the timely information that passengers want and need."

The integration of X2O technology with the Union Pearson Express messaging system is intended to enable authorities to target messages to specific screens and even to specific zones of a screen. Union Pearson Express personnel are also able to take over an entire screen for priority messaging as required. Because the X2O platform is designed to work with any kind of screen type, Union Pearson Express will be able to add future displays with confidence in the systems' interoperability, the company said. In addition, the open nature of the X2O platform allows for integration with Cisco Interactive Experience Client 4600 Series media players, part of the Cisco Interactive Experience Platform, to drive engaging content throughout the installation in real time.