National Rail Enquiries launches travel app to streamline Olympic transport
Responding to the constant rise in passengers accessing National Rail Enquiries (NRE) services on the move via their mobiles, the UK's busiest travel website has now launched its first free mobile travel app for iPhone and Android mobile users.
Shooting straight to the top spot for free travel apps after just one day, the fast take up of this app is helping to improve the ease and speed of rail journeys up and down the country, said NRE.
The NRE app is free and gives real time train progress information rather than being timetable driven. This allows passengers to be alerted to any disruptions and re-plan their journey immediately, giving unprecedented transparency into the rail network and making the lives of every rail passenger easier, the company said.
Designed and created by NRE's digital agency, Fortune Cookie, this advanced use of mobile technology sets a new benchmark for traveller information services by allowing users to track specific trains along their route.
NRE stated that the app is particularly helpful for London commuters with journey planning to or from any Dockland Light Railway or London Underground Zone One station. With more than four million extra visitors expected to use the NRE transport network during the Olympics, this app will help give the company and users of the network means to effectively plan journeys on the go and keep on top of the large volume of expected disruptions, it said.
Two particularly unique features of the app are push notifications and alerts of any delays or service changes, and the ability to plan a journey with real time information, on the go, without the need for an internet connection. Users can personalise notifications and alerts to regularly used services and stations, and the app even features a helpful 'wake me up alarm' to alert passengers when they are approaching their final destination.
Chief executive of NRE, Chris Scoggins, was 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.'
'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 Scoggins.
Justin Cooke, CEO of Fortune Cookie and chair of BIMA, added: 'There were over seven million visits to the NRE website from mobile devices last month; Britain's rail travellers want real time service information wherever they are so their journeys can be as stress-free as possible, and that's exactly what this app gives them. Being able to re-plan your journey on the move makes peoples everyday lives that little bit better, and the inclusion of personlised, real time journey tracking and location based features make the app an example of genuine mobile utility.'
