Rail booking site Thetrainline.com has launched a pilot scheme to allow the purchase of train tickets via its app, which is then available to download to the user’s phone.
Starting this month, rail passengers in the areas of Harrogate, York, Newcastle and Hexham will be able to buy a ticket via the Trainline’s app or website, download it to their phone and use it for travel on East Coast, First TransPennine Express, Northern or CrossCountry trains.
The new form of mobile ticket can be downloaded directly to a smartphone or tablet device and is available to buy through thetrainline website and mobile app.
Travellers will be able to use their mobile tickets for travel at more than twenty stations on a number of operators’ services within the pilot area and ticket types include walk-up standard and first class anytime fares as well as off-peak and super off-peak fares.
Earlier this year, the site launched a mobile facility for corporate travellers to access their bookings using its existing app. Travellers who have booked through their TMC or as a corporate client of thetrainline, can now use its app to log in to their business account as well as their personal Trainline account – Thetrainline has yet to confirm whether the new service will be available through the corporate channel.
“This is a really exciting step forward in the evolution of mobile rail ticketing,” said head of ticketing strategy at thetrainline, John Davies.
“Thetrainline is proud to be at the forefront of the new technological developments and we have been working closely with National Rail and the Train Operating Companies to bring the benefits of mobile technology directly to our customers.
“Ultimately, we want to save our customers money, time and hassle so we’re continually updating our mobile app and the functionality of mobile ticketing. This allows customers to book tickets conveniently wherever they are, whenever they want to – with no queues and no paper tickets.”