CrossCountry, the UK's most extensive rail network, has initiated a technology trial that will allow customers to buy train tickets online and have them sent directly to their mobile phone.

Published: 02 Feb 2009

CrossCountry, the UK's most extensive rail network, has initiated a technology trial that will allow customers to buy train tickets online and have them sent directly to their mobile phone.

The trial will initially run on the company's York to Edinburgh route.

Customers can visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk to book a train ticket, sign up via the 'm-ticket' icon and the train ticket, which will include a security barcode, journey details and the customer name, will be sent immediately to users mobile phone as an MMS message. Customers using the m-ticket simply present their mobile phone at the ticket barrier or to the train manager and show them the barcode ticket.

CrossCountry also offers a special version of its website for mobile browsing, making it simpler for customers to get the information they need whilst using mobile phones, PDA, BlackBerry smartphone or Apple iPhone. The mobile site, m.crosscountrytrains.co.uk, includes live travel updates, ticket booking, a timetable download application and latest news, all in short, simple formats making it easy to read and browse whilst travelling.

David Watkin,commercial director, CrossCountry said; "Our new m-ticket trial is yet another step forward for CrossCountry as it helps simplify the ticket buying process."

"People now expect to do so much more whilst on the move and we want to meet that expectation," Watkin said.

He added; "Accessing up-to-date travel information on the move is vital in today's fast-moving world so launching our mobile website which is suitable for mobile browsing makes CrossCountry more accessible, open and welcoming."

CrossCountry is part of the Arriva group which operates transport services in 12 European countries and provides more than one billion passenger journeys every year.

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