National Rail whatsapp alerts and freebies

[mr_moo]

I've seen a few news articles about a new alert service on whatsapp from national rail:

National Rail launches new WhatsApp service for UK commuters

National Rail has introduced a new passenger communication service, Alert Me by WhatsApp service, for all rail commuters.

www.railway-technology.com

The UK’s National Rail has introduced a new passenger communication service, Alert Me by WhatsApp service, for all rail commuters.

National Rail is managed by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).

Commuters will now be able to receive personalised real-time journey information through WhatsApp.

The service utilises AI and prediction technology developed by Zipabout for generating customised journey updates.
Rail information will include real-time details of delays, disruption, and alternative travel routes.

To use this service, passengers will have to click on the ‘Keep me updated by WhatsApp’ option displayed on the National Rail Enquiries website.

<blah blah it's wonderful blah>

It also includes some freebies being given away apparently, in a short list of stations which include Swindon, my home town, hence this:

National Rail giving free drinks and snacks to passengers travelling by train via Swindon

TRAIN passengers travelling through Swindon could get a free drink or snack if they plan their journey using National Rail’s Alert Me by Messenger…

www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk

TRAIN passengers travelling through Swindon could get a free drink or snack if they plan their journey using National Rail’s Alert Me by Messenger or WhatsApp service.

Anyone using the service between now and October can opt-in to receive freebies like a cup of coffee from train station retailers during their journey, as part of a scheme which rewards customers for travelling by train, taking an alternative service if their chosen train is predicted to be busy, or if they experience a delay.

Passengers will receive vouchers via QR code for redeemable rewards at a variety of retailers, including Whistlestop, Camden Food Co and Upper Crust, within select UK train stations nationwide. The unique technology powering the pilot scheme has been developed by British company Zipabout and matches the reward offers to retailers at specific stations without using any location tracking or third-party data sharing.

However, I'm unable to find any mention of this on the national rail site re the new whatsapp service. Is it just me or has this been launched to much fanfare then failed and quietly withdrawn while they sort it out?

Here's what I can see:


Does anyone know any more about this and/or can anyone find any the whatsapp service info on the site?

 

[zwk500]

It's the 'Alert Me' Section: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/208333.aspx

Nothing mentioned about free snacks and drinks though.

 

[pdeaves]

"National Rail launches new WhatsApp service for UK commuters", starts the linked article. Why just commuters? Are there any commuters left?

The terminology bugs me...

 

[zwk500]

Tbf, the National Rail site makes no mention of commuters only.

 

[mr_moo]

It's the 'Alert Me' Section: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/208333.aspx

Nothing mentioned about free snacks and drinks though.

Awesome - great to see it's somewhere, albeit just buried. However, the 'alert me via whatsapp' green icon isn't actually a link! This is not going well..

 

[Ticket_man]

It's currently only a pilot atm.

 

[freddie1729]

I used the Facebook Messenger one for a journey I made just before the first lockdown, and it alerted me in good time that my train was cancelled. It's so useful to know about disruption immediately, rather than having to remember to check.

 

[Aictos]

It's absolute rubbish, tried going on the National Rail website to set up WhatsApp alerts for my commute and it just jumps to a page that shows the service for all operators.

That's really helpful from them.

 

[zwk500]

It's absolute rubbish, tried going on the National Rail website to set up WhatsApp alerts for my commute and it just jumps to a page that shows the service for all operators.

That's really helpful from them.

Have you given this feedback to National Rail?

 

[mr_moo]

I still can't find any way of setting up the whatsapp alerts. No buttons, no prompts appearing, nothing. I can find a small bit of info when you dig as per the link above but that's just info, no way of actualy setting them up.

 

[flitwickbeds]

What I really want is an alert (SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, email, whatever) when an entire service or part of the network has problems.

I don't want to have to pick a specific train to be alerted about, I want to know in plenty of time of any problems on the line.

 

[Aictos]

Have you given this feedback to National Rail?

Not yet, tried last night and it won't accept any mobile numbers either - personally although it's a good idea, such basics should have been sorted before any launch even if just a trial. It's like they just decided to release a video game without first testing for bugs.

 

[zwk500]

Not yet, tried last night and it won't accept any mobile numbers either - personally although it's a good idea, such basics should have been sorted before any launch even if just a trial. It's like they just decided to release a video game without first testing for bugs.

True, but if there are bugs that go unreported the chances are National Rail or whoever is running the system isn't aware of them. If they were, they'd likely have been fixed.

 

[Aictos]

True, but if there are bugs that go unreported the chances are National Rail or whoever is running the system isn't aware of them. If they were, they'd likely have been fixed.

One thing I find that they've overlooked is that they only allowing personal WhatsApp numbers so those who use WhatsApp business are currently excluded.

 

[mr_moo]

How are you guys even trying to enter your phone numbers? I still can't see anywhere where it lets me do that or even has any substantial info that it exists.

 

[Aictos]

How are you guys even trying to enter your phone numbers? I still can;t see anywhere where it lets me do that or even has any substantial info that it exists.

You basically use the journey planner to pick a journey then it should have a Whatsapp logo at the top which you click on, the next few steps gives you the option of a one off journey update or as a commuter multiple days after which you get to enter your mobile number and you get a message on Whatsapp from them confirming the journey details.

I've now managed to get it set up for my two commutes and I get updates on the service affecting them which I know I have means of checking but having the Whatsapp updates is just a another way of getting the info.