More ticketless rail

Another UK train operator is trialling ticketless business travel, as technological advances power development of the sector.

Midland Mainline is to use 15 business travellers for journeys between London St Pancras and Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield, in tandem with rail ticket provider, TheTrainline.

Chiltern Railways is also undertaking trials of its ticket technology using mobile phones only, but a spokeswoman for Midland Mainline told ABTN that the National Express-owned operator”s scheme was evaluating fully flexible fares, while Chiltern was examining advance purchase ticket technology.

Business travellers will be able to book train travel via TheTrainline and ask that the ticket is sent via a secure message to a mobile phone. Once the message has been activated, up to one and half hours prior to travel, it can be used for journeys on Midland Mainline and can be validated by station staff and on-board train managers.

”We work closely with our customers, so we know that mobile ticketing is what they want,” said TheTrainline commercial director, Mark Furlong.

”As an independent rail retailer, we are in an ideal position to develop products and services that will innovate and consolidate the rail industry ” mobile ticketing is part of our ongoing e-ticketing strategy.”

Chiltern Railways has added to its initial three-month trial that saw 6,000 mobile phone tickets sold, using scanning devices attached to gates at London”s Marylebone station.

TheTrainline provides access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its internet site and contact centre operations in the UK. It also operates 16 of the 21 train companies” retail websites, as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.