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MALAYSIA: KLIA Ekspres and the on-demand transportation and mobile payments platform Grab Malaysia have joined forces to offer a promotional package for their customers.

Travellers who purchase a KLIA Ekspres single trip plus Grab package online at RM55 can get a free Grab ride (worth RM10) to or from KL Sentral Station. This is the same fare as the normal KLIA Ekspres single trip ticket at the counter.

With each single trip package purchased via KLIA Ekspres website, mobile app or kiosk, they will receive a Grab Promo Code worth RM10 each. They can use the Promo Code on a GrabCar, GrabTaxi or a GrabShare ride. Travellers who purchase a KLIA Ekspres Return Trip + Grab package will receive two Grab Promo Codes worth RM10 each.
 
“As Malaysia and Southeast Asia’s preferred ride hailing service, we are always on the lookout for partnerships that will add value to our passengers, business partners and driver-partners. Therefore, this partnership with KLIA Ekspres will definitely improve the overall ride experience for our travellers – both locally and also foreigners, and support our objective of providing convenient and accessible mobility services to all in any way we can,” said Sean Goh, Country Head of GrabMalaysia.
 
Noormah Mohd Noor, Chief Executive Officer of Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL), the operator of KLIA Ekspres said: “At ERL, we recognise that ride-hailing is not only here to stay but will also grow with time – and we embrace this change. We are pleased to launch a new collaboration with Grab that will utilise ride-hailing features as part of the overall KLIA Ekspres service. We believe this will also encourage greater public use of the rail network and improve travel convenience for KLIA Ekspres customers.”
 
“This collaboration will provide a complete airport-to-home travel solution. Ensuring comfortable, convenient, and affordable transportation is a great way to make the start and end of any journey memorable!” said Noormah.
 
Goh further added that with features such as GrabChat (in-app chat system), GrabPay (cashless payment) and GrabRewards (Grab’s loyalty and rewards programme), every ride is made easier because passengers, especially tourists from the SEA region, can communicate with their drivers to minimise miscommunications, pay for their Grab ride without having to fumble for any small change, and above all, get to either use or collect GrabRewards points and exchange them for any local promotion.

AUSTRALIA: New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains have commenced passenger service on Monday 11 December on the Gold Coast Line. 

“The NGR trains are essential to meeting demand during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and our team has worked around the clock to ensure they were ready this year. More trains will be rolled out on the Gold Coast to Airport line over the coming months, including some services to Doomben and Northgate, and will eventually operate across the entire South East Queensland passenger rail network," Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy said.

The new trains will operate between Brisbane's Domestic and International airport stations and the Gold Coast, allowing travellers to have a more comfortable and better-informed journey.

Brisbane's Airtrain CEO, Chris Basche, said to have NGR trains servicing the network was good news for Airtrain passengers, especially leading up to the Commonwealth Games.

“We strive to ensure all of our passengers experience a positive journey when travelling to or from Brisbane Airports and the NGR trains will only enhance their experience,” said Mr Basche.

“To have the first of these new trains up and running on our network and servicing the Gold Coast in time for the Commonwealth Games is fantastic both for Airtrain and for our passengers, existing and future.”

All NGR trains will be Wi-Fi enabled and will feature LCD display screens in each carriage to provide more up to date route and next station information.

They will also have more legroom and larger windows as well as 12 spaces dedicated for those who require mobility aids in the middle two cars that will align with assisted boarding points at the majority of stations on the network.

Airtrain is the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to reach Brisbane and the Gold Coast from Brisbane Airport. It is the sole rail service connecting Brisbane Airport to Brisbane CBD with more than 21 million passenger trips taken in the company’s 16 years of operation.

UK: London Gatwick Airport has launched a passenger app providing flight alerts, real-time queue updates for check-in and security, intuitive navigation using beacon technology and shopping, restaurant and airport offers. 

Gatwick’s new app is part of several passenger-facing digital innovations coming on stream soon including advanced chat bots, augmented reality wayfinding and the airport-wide use of the Internet of Things.

The new app means that holidaymakers and business travellers can enjoy a more seamless experience when travelling through Gatwick as it boasts a range of features including:

• Personalised flight information – real-time updates onflight status and gate information straight to your mobile
• Real-time queue updates – for check-in and security to plan your time at the airport
• Intuitive maps - guiding passengers through the airport using 2,000 navigation beacons located throughout terminal buildings
• Shopping and eating offers – specific to your terminal and instantly redeemable from your phone

Personalised flight information pushed to your phone includes boarding status and gate access, which means passengers can enjoy their time at the airport without having to hunt for flight information screens. 

The free app is a one-stop shop for all things Gatwick with benefits extending beyond use in the terminal buildings, including:

• Real-time road and rail travel information
• Ability to book Official Gatwick Parking, Premium Security or Premium Passport Control 
• A handy ‘Where’s my car?’ feature so those using Gatwick’s on-site car parks can easily store their parking location for a hassle-free return journey
• ‘Which Terminal’ to get you to the right location for your flight
• Passenger pick-up and drop-off information, ideal for those meeting friends and family on an inbound flight
• Information on services across the airport including baby changing, charging points, hotels and lounges
• Easy access to information for passengers requiring special assistance services or those with hidden disabilities
   
  Cathal Corcoran, Chief Information Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “Our new app is just one of many exciting digital initiatives that our award-winning digital team is developing. We are transforming the way airport information is communicated and will soon connect passengers to intelligent chat bots using Facebook Messenger, Skype, and other popular apps. The airport’s 2000 wayfinding beacons are also a world first and have the capability to enable augmented reality wayfinding for passengers, making it easier to navigate the airport’s two terminal buildings.”  

SWEDEN: The express train between Stockholm city centre and Arlanda Airport, Arlanda Express is celebrating its 18th birthday today and invites everyone sharing the same birthday to travel on the service for free. 

RUSSIA: Aeroexpress has placed into operations the first of the new Stadler built double-deckers trains on the Vnukovo airport route. From next month the new double-decker trains will also run on the Domodedovo Airport line, the company has announced.

Stadler has specifically designed the double decker trains for Aeroexpress as part of their rolling stock renewal programme in preparations for the 2018 World Cup. Aeroexpress has already completed the construction of a new platform for Domodedovo airport and is currently building a second one, as well as executing reconstruction works on the platform in Paveletsky railway station. As part of the preparations for the major sporting event next year, Aeroexpress has modernised the wifi network.

“This is one of the most important events for the company in recent years,” Aeroexpress CEO Alexei Krivoruchko said. “We are confident that our passengers will appreciate all the technological innovations implemented in the new double-decker trains.”

“Vnukovo Airport serves more than 60 thousand passengers daily and for we strive to create the best customer experience for each one of them. The launch of the new double-decker trains to our airport is a very important step towards the improvement of airport access infrastructure,” Vnukovo International Airport General Manger Vasily Alexandrov said.

In total four double-decker trains are planned to be put in operation by the end of November on the Vnukovo Airport line and seven trains will run to Domodedovo airport before the end of the year.