Losses widen at Tyneside train WiFi provider Nomad Digital following group restructure
The firm was acquired by Alstom in 2016 and a restructure of group activities has seen work move to other affiliates
12:15, 27 FEB 2023
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North East train WiFi provider Nomad Digital has seen its losses widen following a group restructure, despite successfully growing its order book. The Newcastle Quayside business, which was launched 20 years ago, is a global leader in providing passenger and fleet connectivity systems to the railway and bus markets. Nomad – which was acquired by Alstom in 2016 – has expanded from serving up WiFi broadband services on public transport to developing other systems and services, including media entertainment, real time passenger information services, CCTV and real time telemetry. Now accounts published for the year to March 31 2022 show a 21% drop in turnover from £32.5m to £25.8m, following a restructure of group activities, which saw its Dutch business and a Canadian project move to other local affiliates within the wider group. Its operating losses doubled from £2.3m to £4.7m and pre-tax losses also widened, from £3.3m to £4.7m. The overall loss for the year was £4.7m, up from £3m. Over the course of the year the firm’s workforce grew from an average of 130 to 134 employees. Despite the fall in sales and profits, the accounts highlight a number of contract wins while also outlining how the company “will continue to develop and enhance its solution offerings, as it seeks to penetrate new and growing markets, addressing ever changing industry requirements with innovative solutions”. But the company noted that after seeing losses in the financial year and in previous years, it is reliant upon its owners Alstom. At the end of the financial year the company had net liabilities of £5.268m. In the accounts, the firm said: “The company continued to successfully grow its order backlog. Notable successes include the award of a significant French framework and some decisive wins in new territories (Southern Europe) and new segments (Light Rail). “While operators’ investment plans remain dynamic, the company has continued to see activity supporting operators in offering services to attract passengers back to public transport networks, and also in providing key data insights to operators to enhance fleet management and deliver operational efficiency. “Turnover decreased by 21% following a restructure of group activities novating Dutch activity to a local affiliate and transferring scope on a Canadian project to another affiliate. This re-definition of scope also resulted in a reversal of revenue and margin recognised on activities previously delivered, impacting the profitability in the year. “The year saw positive customer feedback on system performance from major operators. It also saw the first section of significant trackside network contract installed. “The directors note that the company has made a loss in the current year and has experience of losses in previous years. The directors recognise that the company will be reliant on the financial support of Alstom Holdings in order to continue operating and meet its liabilities as they fall due. Alstom Holdings has provided this assurance in writing.”
At the start of this year the company was placed at number one in the TransportTech 50, for the UK’s most innovative transport technology creators of 2022. Go HERE to sign up for North East business newsletters and get all the latest news direct to your inbox
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Losses widen at Tyneside train WiFi provider Nomad Digital following group restructure

Nomad Digital have been awarded two contracts to supply, implement, operate, and maintain a turnkey Trackside Radio Network for Caltrain. Nomad Digital, specialist in transport connectivity solutions has been awarded two contracts by Caltrain to supply, implement, operate, and maintain a turnkey Trackside Radio Network and associated on-train services on the newly electrified line spanning the San Francisco to San Jose rail corridor. The project includes fitting Caltrain’s trackside infrastructure with a Radio Network using cutting edge mmWave radio technology to deliver gigabit broadband performance. The complete end to end network architecture includes the use of next generation train to ground communication technologies and on-train Wi-Fi equipment, all supplied and designed to work together to deliver the latest industry performance. The design and deployment of this new Trackside Radio Network infrastructure allows Caltrain to supply passengers with a high bandwidth internet experience and to support digital services through an ‘always on’ network approach, including CCTV, train monitoring and up to date Passenger Information. Wi-Fi 6 and Hotspot 2.0 features make the system future-proof and able to support advanced access technologies. “We are very pleased to secure these contracts with Caltrain and want first to thank the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board for their confidence,” Xavier Champaud, Managing Director of Nomad Digital , said. “The newly electrified line for this corridor will have a positive environmental impact in the region and to partner with Caltrain on implementing the latest mmWave radio infrastructure as part of this, encouraging ridership, is a great achievement. Its implementation without affecting today’s operation is a must and we trust that Nomad Digital’s expertise in designing and deploying complex telecom infrastructure in the Railway context places Nomad Digital in the position to deliver the expectation.”
“Silicon Valley’s train needs Wi-Fi,” Michelle Bouchard, Executive Director for Caltrain, said. “Onboard Wi-Fi will allow our riders to get a head start on the workday, or decompress on their way home, staying connected with the world outside. This is one more reason for commuters to choose Caltrain over sitting in highway gridlock.”

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Train Wi-Fi supplier Nomad Digital narrows losses despite pandemic disruption
The Newcastle tech firm says it is confident opportunities continue to arise even though some train companies have delayed decision making during Covid
Nomad Digital works with a number of rail operators around the globe (Image: CrossCountry)
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North East train Wi-Fi provider Nomad Digital says it is working with operators to entice passengers back to rail travel following the disruption caused by the pandemic. Fresh company accounts show Nomad Digital Limited - one of several companies within the wider Alstom group - narrowed operating losses from £3.6m to £2.3m in the year to the end of March 2021, while turnover increased from £29.5m to £32.5m. The 20-year-old business, which runs offices near Newcastle Quayside, said that while some customers had delayed investment decision making, it continued to see opportunities arise. Nomad's key customers are franchised train operators running services in the UK and national rail companies overseas. It said this meant that despite low passenger volumes caused by the pandemic, its exposure to insolvency risk was relatively low. Writing in a report accompanying the accounts, Nomad director Anthony Fowler, said: "Operators continue to review their operations in the current environment. "While seeing some delay in investment decisions, the business continues to see opportunities arise. The company has continued to see activity supporting operators in offering services to attract passenger back to the networks, and also in providing information back to the operators to enhance fleet management and deliver operating efficiency." Nomad is reliant on its French parent - Alstom - from which it draws on a £10.25m loan facility, repayable at the end of March 2023. It has also borrowed £13.1m via intercompany loan arrangements with Alstom's treasury function. The 130-strong firm - which describes itself as the global market leader in the provision of Wi-Fi on trains - saw turnover grow most substantially in North America, where it increased from £2.6m to £5.1m. In Europe, its largest market, turnover grew from £21m to £23.6m however it fell in the UK from £5.9m to £3.7m. Mr Fowler also said: "The company will continue to develop and enhance its solution offerings, as it seeks to penetrate new and growing markets, as well as maintain its significant market leadership in well-established territories. "It continues to work with its sister companies in Alstom and with its Nomad Tech Joint Venture to enhance the
offering to the market."

Train Wi-Fi supplier Nomad Digital narrows losses despite pandemic disruption

Caltrain is a California commuter rail line. It is based in San Carlos, California.

Caltrain

Nomad Digital , specialist in transport connectivity solutions has been awarded two contracts by Caltrain to supply , implement , operate , and maintain a turnkey Trackside Radio Network and associated on-train services on the newly electrified line spanning the San Francisco to San Jose rail corridor .

Irdeto offers solutions and services that enable customers to protect their brand and revenues, create new offerings and fight cybercrime.

Irdeto

AMSTERDAM , March 31 , 2021 -- Irdeto , the world leader in digital platform security , is proud to announce it has entered into a strategic partnership with Nomad Digital , the world 's leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions and trackside networks .

Irdeto’s Control on the Go brings digital rights management protection and streaming optimization to internet challenged spaces - Irdeto

RazorSecure provides active monitoring software that monitors difficult to manage small scale/IoT systems in harsh environments continuously and alerts the instant that a system breach occurs.

RazorSecure

Hitachi Rail is a fully integrated, global provider of rail solutions across rolling stock, signaling services and turnkey. It is based in London, England.

Hitachi Rail Europe

Nomad Digital

Cognera

Interoute

Acquired

Nomad Digital is a global provider of passenger and fleet-management solutions to the rail industry. Headquartered in the UK, with more than 50 customers across the world, Nomad designs, builds, deploys, and manages Passenger WiFi and Passenger Information systems. It also provides remote condition-based monitoring and maintenance solutions for optimizing fleet management and operational performance.

Name	Work History	Title	Status
Nigel Wallbridge	Cognera, Interoute, and TBL	Founder	Former
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Name	Nigel Wallbridge	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more
Work History	Cognera, Interoute, and TBL	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more	Subscribe to see more
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Name	Roy Merritt
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Work History
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