Newcomer MyTrainTicket.co.uk takes on Thetrainline in ticket sales battle

Kent-based rail industry web company Assertis teams up with Mobiqa, Journeycall and Fujitsu in bid to transform the online ticketing market

Robin Wells

Robin Wells

MOBIQA

Mobiqa, the mobile phone ticketing specialist, is providing mobile ticket delivery capabilities to MyTrainTicket.co.uk. By offering the mobile channel as a delivery option, train companies will be able to send customers tickets to their mobile phone instead of passengers needing to print them out at home or in the office, or collecting them from kiosks at the station. MyTrainTicket.co.uk’s mobile tickets are delivered as SMS Web Links, Email Web Links or by MMS and contain a scannable barcode as well as the passenger’s travel itinerary. The barcode held within the message is scanned and validated at the station or onboard the train.

Mobiqa claims that mobile ticket delivery is a more convenient means of receiving a rail ticket because passengers are able to bypass queues at the station and no longer need access to a PC and printer to print

their tickets. Mobile tickets are also more eco-friendly than their paper versions.  

Mobiqa’s CEO, Nick Rankin, says: “MyTrainTicket.co.uk has recognised the added convenience and paper-saving benefits of mobile ticketing and we’re delighted they have chosen Mobiqa to provide this functionality to their customers.

“Innovation within the UK rail industry is an imperative step to enhancing passenger experience and processing efficiency and by choosing Mobiqa, MyTrainTicket.co.uk are able future-proof their mobile offerings.”

www.mobiqa.com

journeycall

North East Scotland contact centre operator, Journeycall, has been selected to provide customer support, telesales and ticket fulfilment services for MyTrainTicket.co.uk

Journeycall managing director, Trisha Pirie, said: “We’re delighted to have won this three-year contract, which reflects our continuing strong success in providing contact centre services within the transport sector. Our contact centres use highly intelligent staff who have the ability to select the best ticket and service options for customers, whatever the circumstances.”

Journeycall was chosen as MyTrainTicket.co.uk’s front line support partner because of its extensive experience in providing similar services within the rail industry. MyTrainTicket.co.uk welcomed the opportunity to bring its online ticket selling website development expertise together with Journeycall’s retailing knowledge, to provide a high quality call handling and ticket issuing service, which will also include refunds and a support helpline for customers.

Journeycall has expanded rapidly despite the recession, and now handles over 5,000 phone calls, emails and letters daily through its Brechin and Laurencekirk contact centres.  It specialises in intelligent customer support, smartcard (in conjunction with ESP Systex) and sales fulfilment services, primarily for public transport operators including Stagecoach, Go Ahead, Raileasy, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Transport for London. 

Journeycall’s expertise covers rail and other public transport services, with the company being a strong supporter of integrated transport development.

www.journeycall.com

fujitsu

MyTrainTicket.co.uk uses Fujitsu’s ‘Rail Information Booking Services’ (RIBS) as its gateway to access central rail industry information such as national reservation systems and ticket and departure

services including daily fare and timetable updates.

Fujitsu’s RIBS have been designed to take full responsibility for managing the complexities of the rail data and information services – meaning web ticketing providers can focus on developing and supporting the sales process and ongoing relationship with passengers and ultimately get to market quicker with their offering.

Nick Chisnall, head of rail business at Fujitsu UK & Ireland, comments: “The market for online rail ticket booking is growing significantly and we're seeing much more choice entering the market. The challenge for those providing the booking services is to balance the requirement for access to the key rail information with their own skills in developing the best passenger facing booking experience. It's an exciting time to be working in partnership with www.MyTrainTicket.co.uk to help them meet their ambitions of transforming the online rail ticketing market.”

Fujitsu works with a number of companies and organisations across the rail industry including Eurostar, Arriva Trains Wales, FirstGroup (First Scotrail, First Great Western and First Transpennine Express) and Stagecoach (South West Trains and East Midlands Trains).

In 2008, Fujitsu was awarded a five-year, £13m deal to refresh, enhance and streamline the hardware and applications technology used by the ATOC’s Rail Journey Information Services (RJIS).

uk.fujitsu.com