Review: Train Tickets (SNCB)
Score:
75%
Belgian company SNCB are behind 'Train Tickets', an international application that lets you buy train tickets across Europe for international travel. Unlike other applications (such as Scotrail's Windows Phone app), Train Tickets is geared towards the long distance traveller on services between European countries. Think Eurostar and Fyra rather than the 1810 to Basingstoke, and you'll be in the right area.
Version Reviewed: 1.0.0.0
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An application like this obviously has a limited target market. I assume management types who need to travel between the European capital cities at very short notice would be one of the largest groups, and of course it is not a standalone service. This app is the mobile version of the full web based service from SNCB, so you can be reassured there is some serious work going on behind the screen.
In operation there's not a lot of extra fluff in the application. You set up your journey with arrival and departure stations, date and time for departing and arriving, travel class, number of passengers, and you'll be able to select the trains for your journey.
Payment can also be taken from inside the application, and while you do have the option to collect your ticket from the station, it's probably more in the spirit of things to have your ticket delivered electronically to the handset. All your details are stored via a QR Code which is then scanned at the ticket barriers or by the on-train staff.
One additional section of the app is that it can provide some details about the destinations, so if you find yourself in London at short notice you can search Booking.com for a hotel, be shown a handful of points of interest (such as the London Eye or Hamleys), and some restaurant recommendations. Neither of these options are comprehensive, but I suspect once more that people who will be using this application in all seriousness will be happy with limited but workable options, especially for accommodation.
Train tickets is a very focused application, and what it does it does well, with a clear menu structure, and clean presentation. It's clearly not for everybody, so the majority of Windows Phone users will pass it by, but for the small number of travellers that need to get international train tickets at the last minute, this is perfect.
Reviewed by Ewan Spence at