A supporting role

 has announced key revenue management contracts that will see it supporting two of National Express Group’s largest rail franchise operations.

Thales will be working in partnership with JDA Software Group to deliver a Rail Revenue Optimiser (RRO) solution for National Express East Anglia and a Price Sensitive Revenue Management (PSRM) solution for National Express East Coast.

PSRM provides train operators with a tool to analyse and manage supply and demand for train tickets. Similarly, RRO works by forecasting demand for each journey and recommending inventory controls that will allow operators to price fares in line with market trends.

In addition to implementing the systems, Thales will supply secure hosting, maintenance support and production systems for revenue management of both operations.

Work has already begun on both franchises. National Express East Anglia’s system is expected to provide operational service with RRO later this year while National Express East Coast is scheduled to utilise PSRM in the second quarter of 2009.

Offline testing of enhancements will also be available via individual reference systems. The revenue management solutions for both operators will be co-sited in Yorkshire at Thales’ two new high-security data centres.

The National Express East Coast and

contracts are independent from each other and their PSRM systems will operate separately.