Glow deliver first of kind Transport System for UK Rail Industry

Glow have created a "first of its kind" transport information system for UK Rail Industry. 

A new online tool which lets customers check how often any train was on time for up to a year has been launched by the rail industry.

‘MyTrainJourney’ gives customers the power to see the punctuality and reliability record of every train service in Britain on a smartphone, tablet or computer, revealing how that train performed in the last week, month or any period up to one year.   

The product gives customers historic real-time information from a national rail database, allowing them to compare the performance of different trains and routes such as the percentage of journeys when an early morning service arrived on time or early, and how many times it was more than 15 minutes late or cancelled.

MyTrainJourney will be particularly helpful, for example, to people who have a choice of train routes or who might be moving house in deciding where to commute from.

The online tool was commissioned by the rail industry’s National Task Force (NTF), a cross-industry group focussed on improving train punctuality, and developed by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents Network Rail and train operators, alongside Glow New Media.

The data that powers MyTrainJourney is being made available to software developers as part of the rail industry’s move to open up more of its data to enable companies to build new apps and other smart technology to benefit passengers.

Chris Burchell, NTF chair and RDG lead on performance and punctuality, said:

“We know that every minute counts for our passengers and we want people to have the best information to help them plan their journeys. MyTrainJourney now means that customers can check the punctuality of their specific, chosen journey from what happened yesterday up to a year ago and make informed choices about which train to catch or route to take.

“We’re giving customers more facts at their fingertips as we work to make journeys by rail better from start to finish.”

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said:

“We want to build a 21st century railway that provides better journeys for all, and improved information for customers is a vital part of that.

“The industry should do all it can to make sure rail passengers get where they need to go, on time and free from disruption. More people are travelling by train than ever before and this initiative by RDG is a welcome move to help ensure passengers have the best possible information when planning their journey.”

MyTrainJourney was designed by Liverpool-based Glow New Media, and uses a new online source developed from rail industry data by information technology company CACI.

Phil Blything, Director of Glow New Media, said:

“We're delighted to see MyTrainJourney launch. It's the first service of its kind in the UK on this scale and now passengers can quickly understand how punctual their train is and make better travel decisions.

“This builds on our substantial portfolio of innovative transport applications and further consolidates Glow's position as a leading Transport Systems Innovator."

ENDS

Notes to editors

• More information about the data the rail industry is making available to developers is here.