The UK’s first ‘video ticket office’ called NextAgent has been opened at Stansted International Airport in London.

Transport provider Abellio and Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) trialled NextAgent as a latest solution to improve ticket purchasing service for rail passengers.

CTS, a business unit of America-based Cubic Corporation, is the developer of the innovative NextAgent.

"NextAgent was first introduced in October 2015."

NextAgent will provide a walk-up ticket office to passengers, connecting them to an Abellio Greater Anglia ticketing expert through a live video-link.

The facility can use the inbuilt camera to validate documents of the passengers. It can also provide journey-related information to them.

A wide range of UK destinations and train services are also available.

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At present, NextAgent at Stansted Airport sells only magnetic tickets, which cover several UK destinations and train services, to the passengers.

It is also capable of providing all the facilities available at a staffed ticket office, including vending a comprehensive range of media such as paper barcodes, smart cards, e-ticketing, magnetic tickets and mobile ticketing.

Abellio commercial development head Jeremy Whitaker said: "Abellio aspires to be at the leading edge of an innovative customer service that constantly improves to deliver a door-to-door service and provides passengers with what they want, when they want it, and to a high quality.

"We are pleased that NextAgent offers our customers another step on this door-to-door journey through this exciting innovation which will help people arriving at Stansted Airport to simplify the process when purchasing train tickets for their onward journey, with the reassurance of a member of staff on hand via the video link."

NextAgent was first introduced in October 2015.

CTS Europe executive vice president and managing director Roger Crow said: "Abellio’s introduction of NextAgent represents a unique way to provide high-quality customer service and is another example of how we are bringing our NextAgent vision to life."

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