Train Times UK, one of the very first apps developed for rail travellers to plan journeys and receive up-to-date information on their train journeys, is my go-to app to keep my train trips on track.
Train Times UK is available for free on iPhone and iPad from the App Store. The app harnesses real-time data from the National Rail network, providing users with up-to-the-minute information. Users can access real-time departure and arrival updates, live tracking to monitor their train’s route, and details about upcoming and past stations. Additionally, the app offers features such as saving favourite station departure boards, bookmarking favourite routes, and more.
While the UK does have an official National Rail Enquiries mobile app for travellers to similarly access live train information, the app—criticised as ‘laughable’ and ‘obtuse’ in App Store reviews—falls well below the standards offered by third-parties such as Janak, the developer who launched Train Times UK close to ten years ago. Since then, the app has received over half a million downloads with an overall rating of 4.5/5 stars, far beyond the 2.5/5 stars given to the UK’s official National Rail Enquiries app.
Speaking with The Apple Post, Janak said “I’m a self-taught, independent app developer based in London, trying to build apps which are helpful for people. For me it’s a great feeling when I’m on the train and I notice strangers use my app to get around. One of the things I’m most proud of with this app is the feedback it receives from users. Particularly those who are vision-impaired and find the app easy to use with Voiceover.”
Train Times UK: Best Train Tracking App
For me, Train Times UK is the best train tracking app on the App Store, especially considering that ByTrain—a comparable app—hit the buffers last year and departed from the App Store for reasons the developer shared with The Apple Post but asked to keep private.
One of my favourite features in the app, which was recently added is the ability to filter departures by multiple platforms at once. I also find the live train tracking particularly useful, especially when delays occur and I can see how far away my train is, and how many stops it will take before I arrive at my destination.
Another feature I love—and something many commuters will appreciate too—is that when planning a multi-leg journey, the app shows you the platform where you will arrive and where your next train will depart, along with the time you have in between to make that change. This means that when it’s time to change trains, you can be confident that you already know exactly where you are going and how long you have to get there.
The app also displays the number of carriages on a service, allowing you to position yourself on the platform near the doors. The “Quick Times” feature enables you to set and save specific times for regular train trips, such as 7:30am tomorrow or 5:30pm today, so you can check services at those times with just one tap.
Train Times UK: An App for UK Train Travellers
Without hesitation, Train Times UK is an app that I recommend for all train travelers across the country. Personally, as a seasoned rail traveler with hundreds—if not thousands—of journeys under my belt, I wouldn’t feel as comfortable planning a train trip without the help of this app.
Real-time departure and arrival updates, live tracking to monitor a train’s route and saved departure boards make the Train Times UK app a train user’s best friend.