Trainline app revamped for mobiles

A rail timetable and journey planning app has been upgraded so travellers can buy tickets using their mobiles.

The Trainline also said that in the near future, tickets for selected routes will be delivered directly to the phone as a secure barcode, replacing the need for a ticket altogether.

The app, which was launched a year ago for the iPhone, will now be available as a free download for other mobile devices as well; including the iPod and Nokia, Blackberry and Android devices.

The company said it had not merely replicated its current website for mobile devices, but taken advantage of the fact smartphones can act as location devices so can find the nearest station to the user.

People will have to sign up online for a Trainline account but can set their ‘home’ station using the app. To pay for a ticket the user can use the credit or debit card stored in their Trainline account. Alternatively they can use another card when booking a ticket via the app.

Currently undergoing pilot tests, the new Trainline app will be available later this month through a device's app market place. Users of the existing iPhone app will be automatically notified of the free upgrade once it has gone live.