A HAMPSHIRE manufacturer is doing its bit to make sure rail passengers are kept in comfort – and on time.

Barnbrook Systems, based in Fareham, is providing BlueCube devices to be used in a trial to track temperatures in carriages and the impact of air-conditioning on engine performance.

The ground-breaking initiative – the first of its kind in the country – is part of a renewed initiative to improve passenger comfort and while investigating the strain air-conditioning puts on the engine.

This could potentially improve performance and help to improve the reliability and punctuality of services, the company claims.

Staff at the company's headquarters in Fareham Park Road will monitor live data beamed back remotely by sensors to identify any issues and record temperatures for later diagnosis.

Andrew Barnett, Barnbrook chief technology officer, said: “This is an industry first for our award-winning BlueCube technology.

“It will help pave the way to a more comfortable and punctual travelling experience.

“It will also have a potentially significant impact in terms of preventative maintenance, continuous service and reliability.

“It demonstrates ongoing investment by the rail industry as it embraces new technology and change for the public and business alike.”

Barnbrook Systems says its BlueCube technology can be used in various industries to monitor systems and remotely report back and is currently being tested to monitor fuel levels by a major international helicopter manufacturer.

Other potential uses for the BlueCube include monitoring water levels in cisterns, brakes and doors on trains as well as GPS tracking.

The company hopes its BlueCube initiative will help it grow allowing it to invest further in its innovative youth training and apprenticeship programme to get more young people into the engineering industry.

The firm, which has 40 employees, won supplier of the year and was highly commended for its BlueCube technology at the Light Rail Industry Awards last October.

It also won the National Passenger Safety title at last year’s UK Rail Industry Awards for its brake controller.