Thetrainline to offer mobile tickets

Online rail ticket retailer Thetrainline.com is developing a mobile ticketing service that allows customers to buy and redeem train tickets via mobile devices.

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The tickets provider, aims to expand its current mobile apps platform to include mobile phone barcodes that can be scanned at train stations offering a similar service to airline boarding passes.

Currently users can buy travel tickets from Thetrainline’s iPhone, Android and Nokia apps, but must queue at ticket machines in stations to print hard copy tickets.

Speaking at the British Retail Consortium Multi-Channel retailing conference in London today (24 March), Murray Hennessy, CEO of Thetrainline.com said:  “We’re trying to move the game on from price as a driver. We’re looking at electronic barcodes ticketing so that customers can go to the station with their ticket in hand and avoid any queues.”

“It will move Thetrainline’s proposition from being about price, to being about price and convenience.”

Henessey says he believes that while there are other competing mobile technologies available such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and smart cards, barcodes will be the first to come to fruition.

The travel website is also broadening its offer and has recently added complementary sectors such as hotel and car rental offers.

It is now looking to better integrate the new services into its train tickets platform to improve the customer experience.

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