National Rail Enquiries launches free smartphone app

01/05/2012

National Rail Enquiries has launched its own free smartphone app for iPhone and Android operating systems, offering UK passengers even more choice over how they access real time information about train journeys.

As the leading source of train travel information in the UK, National Rail Enquiries has designed its app to provide passengers with live information about train arrivals and departures in an integrated and intuitive manner.

The app can now be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple app store and features many of National Rail Enquiries’ most popular tools including a real time journey planner and live departure boards, together with relevant and up-to-the-minute information about disruptions and stations.

Two particularly unique features of the app include the option of receiving push notifications for automatic alerts of any delays or changes to specific train services, and the ability to plan a journey with real time information and check live departure boards without the need for an internet connection.

Chief Executive of National Rail Enquiries, Chris Scoggins, is enthusiastic about the launch: “Development and innovation are at the forefront of all we do at National Rail Enquiries, and we are confident that this app will help the growing number of smartphone users to quickly and easily access up-to-date information about train services while on the move.”

The National Rail Enquiries app offers far more than a train timetable. Each of the different tools utilises real time information about train arrivals and departures to provide passengers with the most accurate information available for their journey. For example, the journey planner returns information based on a train’s live progress, not just its scheduled times, and any known service disruptions are automatically fed into the customer’s results.

Passengers can see a live departure board for their chosen station, with the option of viewing the results by destination or origin. They can then monitor the live progress of each train service if they wish.

The app features a helpful “wake me up alarm” to alert passengers to their final destination. Its functionality also includes the ability to send any number of push notifications directly to the user’s phone, alerting them of any delays or cancellations to their chosen service. Customers can also access relevant station information through the journey planner which includes links to more detailed information on National Rail Enquiries’ mobile website.

The National Rail Enquiries app is particularly helpful for London commuters, with journey planning to or from any Dockland Light Railway or London Underground Zone One station.

The National Rail Enquiries app is now available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Customers can download the free app which features a small advert display. They can then choose to upgrade to an ad-free version for £4.99 if they wish.

“Innovation in the mobile market continues to gather pace, and we are delighted to offer customers the choice of a free app that provides relevant, real time information about UK train journeys,” concluded Chris Scoggins.

Features at a glance:
• Real time journey planner
• Live departure boards
• Push notifications
• Information about service disruptions
• Journeys can be planned without an internet connection
• “Wake me up alarm” alerting passengers of their final destination
• Shows journeys to/from Docklands Light Railway and London Underground (Zone One stations)
• The tools are integrated and draw on real time information about train departures
• Free to download with the option of an in-app upgrade to ad-free version for £4.99
• Developed for Apple iPhone and Google Android operating systems

ENDS

Editor’s notes:
• National Rail Enquiries licenses its real time running information to developers, many of whom have brought successful apps to market. With the introduction of a dedicated National Rail Enquiries app, app developers were advised that they are no longer be able to use the National Rail logo to identify their app in the app stores, though the data itself will remain the same. This is primarily to avoid customer confusion over identification.
• The ad-display on the free version and the £4.99 charge for the in-app upgrade to the ad-free version will contribute towards the costs National Rail Enquiries incurs in collecting and processing the real time running data and the costs of developing and maintaining the Darwin real time system.
• National Rail Enquiries has recently developed a TV app for Samsung, LG and Phillips TVs.
• National Rail Enquiries is owned and funded by the passenger train operating companies.
• The app can be downloaded from the App Store by following the link http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/national-rail-enquiries/id519094154?mt=8
• The app can be downloaded from Google Play by following the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nationalrail.google

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