New digital touchscreen installed at main rail gateway
Solihull Station has become the site of a new interactive Wayfinding and Local Information Unit, offering residents and visitors a single point of access for maps, local events and practical travel information. The unit has been placed at the station entrance and is the first of its kind in Solihull and only the second in the country.
The touchscreen provides a detailed map of the borough together with up‑to‑date listings for entertainment venues, restaurants, visitor attractions and council services. It also offers practical features such as weather updates and transport links, intended to help people arriving at the station find their destination quickly and with greater confidence.
Council and commercial partnership
Councillor Wazma Qais, Cabinet Member for Communities, said the device was the result of work between the council’s visitor economy team, Visit Solihull, and Bauer Media. She stressed the importance of making information about the borough as accessible as possible and described the unit as a “fantastic asset” for visitors, residents and local businesses.
“It’s important that information about our borough is as accessible as possible. This unit will be a fantastic asset for visitors, residents and local businesses,”
The council highlighted Solihull Station’s role as a key gateway to the town centre, which it said remains among the strongest performing in the country. The new Wayfinding Unit is presented as part of preparations to meet growing passenger demand over the coming decade and to support ambitions for future growth.
Maintenance, monitoring and the role of advertising
Bauer Media Outdoor UK will carry responsibility for ongoing maintenance. The company said the unit will be monitored remotely and will also receive regular in‑person inspections to keep it fully operational. Will Ramage, Managing Director at Bauer Media Outdoor UK, framed the installation as an example of how ad‑funded infrastructure can support local authorities, residents, visitors and businesses by placing real‑time local information at a key arrival point.
- Location: Entrance to Solihull Station
- Type: Interactive touchscreen Wayfinding and Local Information Unit
- Partners: Visit Solihull (visitor economy team), Solihull Council, Bauer Media Outdoor UK
- Responsibilities: Bauer Media to provide remote monitoring and regular inspections
| Feature | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Map | Detailed map of the borough |
| Events & attractions | Listings for local events, venues and restaurants |
| Practical info | Weather updates, transport links, council services |
Local impact and context
Placed at Solihull’s primary rail arrival point, the unit aims to improve the experience of people arriving in the town, including those unfamiliar with local facilities. For businesses and the visitor economy, it offers a new channel to reach potential customers and promote what the borough has to offer. For frequent commuters and residents, the promise of reliable, real‑time information could also reduce congestion around station approaches by cutting the need to stop and ask for directions.
While the statement from the council and Bauer Media sets out the intended benefits, the practical value of the unit will depend on its ease of use, the currency of the information displayed and the robustness of maintenance arrangements over time. Remote monitoring alongside scheduled inspections is intended to keep the unit operational, but local groups and businesses will be watching to see how effectively it supports the town centre as passenger numbers rise.
The introduction of the Wayfinding Unit arrives amid ongoing conversations about how towns adapt to changing travel patterns and encourage footfall into high streets. Solihull’s approach, combining council backing and commercial support from Bauer Media, reflects a broader trend of public‑private collaboration in providing digital amenities at transport hubs.
