Mass text trial for train travellers

Mass text messages will keep Liverpool Street commuters up to date

Commuters on Anglia Railways are trying out a new automatic way of keep track of train times with messages sent to their mobile phones.

In a first for the industry, Anglia Railways is trialling the new service with 50 regular travellers.

If it proves successful it hopes to offer the service to all its passengers.

From 1 August the trial group will be sent a text message at 1600BST every day telling them how the evening peak service from London Liverpool Street is expected to perform.

Text messages can also be sent at other times, such as during service disruption, to give updates and keep passengers informed.

Alternative arrangements

Anglia Railways' group IT manager, Nick Wilson, said, "For a relatively small cost, Anglia Railways is now able to offer an invaluable service to commuters.

"It will give them more confidence in planning their journeys and the ability to make alternative arrangements in advance if there are any unexpected problems affecting their journeys home."

The service uses a piece of software designed for mass text services which has been developed for Anglia Railways by Smart421.

If it proves a success, the pilot, which will last for three months, will be extended to include all First Class Commuter Club members from the 1 September.

It is hoped that from November, the service will be available to all Commuter Club members and will later be rolled out to include all passengers on a subscription basis.