17 March 2009

Rail planning by iPhone becomes a reality

A new application allowing iPhone and iPod Touch users to access real-time rail journey planning information across the UK rail network has been unveiled.

At a cost of £4.99, the applications is described as the "equivalent of SatNav for passenger rail".

"It enables you to find your nearest station and plan your journey home at the touch of a screen," said Ra Wilson, National Rail Enquiries’ web development manager.

"The National Rail Enquiries for iPhone application uses the device’s inbuilt GPS to find your nearest station anywhere in Great Britain. The Next Train Home feature then plans the best route home to your destination."

A Journey Planner search function allows users to save regular journeys for quick planning.

Favourite stations can be saved for one-touch access to departure and arrival information.

The software has been developed in conjunction with Agant Ltd, whose managing director Dave Addey said: "Train travellers will benefit from information about live train progress, platform changes, delays and cancellations."

National Rail Enquiries plans to introduce a complementary service that will enable Microsoft Outlook users to plan journeys within Outlook using a meeting invitation as the basis for their journey.

by Phil Davies