railtour-live.co.uk

[blackfive460]

Very true Ian,
We discontinued it a little while ago, it was a trial.

Much as I suspected.
What about some kind of mobile internet based access then?

By the way, who's Ian?

 

[MadCommuter]

How about a 2 tier system, where new users can get texts at 25p a shot on a pay as you go system? Regular users could invest a tenner a time and get the cheaper cost of 15p texts.

 

[Bomber]

With the majority of 'phones now having the facility, surely mobile internet and a daily, monthly or annual subscription (plus SMS for those who want them, of course) is the way to go with this?

Whilst the majority of phones may have internet facility, and the majority of people may have them, by going this way you are excluding those who, by choice, do not have, or want, internet capability. There is also the problem of coverage, there are many remote locations, S&C being the one I know well, where phone coverage is very poor and SMS often gets through when voice does not, 3G, no chance.
Keeping it simple seems the better option at the moment.

 

[blackfive460]

Whilst the majority of phones may have internet facility, and the majority of people may have them, by going this way you are excluding those who, by choice, do not have, or want, internet capability. There is also the problem of coverage, there are many remote locations, S&C being the one I know well, where phone coverage is very poor and SMS often gets through when voice does not, 3G, no chance.
Keeping it simple seems the better option at the moment.

That's why I said 'plus SMS for those who want them'.
No, you can't get a 3G signal in a lot of places but often, in areas where the signal isn't sufficient for voice calls but where you can get and send texts, I usually find my 'phone drops to GPRS which is quite adequate for a simple wap page. Indeed in those areas, although it's slow, I can usually read and post on this forum in full web mode.
I'm not trying to get NatPres to shift away from SMS, just to provide an alternative for those who don't have a free texts but can get cheap daily data allowance.
Not having to pay 12p a time to send updates would encourage me to send info in when I'm travelling and therefore, wouldn't need to subscribe to the service. Surely, getting info from someone actually on the train is the best way to get the info?

 

[natpres]

Just a quick note
It costs nothing for members to send update from a train or any other area.
We only ask members register so we can control who is sending in updates.
The only time charges are incurred, is when a member wished to receive updates.

When I say it costs nothing to send in updates to our service, I mean that we do not charge you, however your Mobile service provider may still charge you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
We are working on a facility to accommodate members who have WAP / GPRS phones and wish to use that service.

This will be available soon.

 

[blackfive460]

<snip> however your Mobile service provider may still charge you.

Quite. And if I'm travelling on the train I'm unlikely to spend multiple 12p's to send info about it but as I'll already have paid for a day's internet, no problem.

We are working on a facility to accommodate members who have WAP / GPRS phones and wish to use that service.
This will be available soon.

Look forward to hearing about that but please tell us here when it is available as I'm sure there are others besides myself who don't often visit NatPres.
p.s. Still not sure who Ian is...

 

[natpres]

I am building a web form that allows you to send in an update via a web page. It's undergoing testing right now. And if all ok, will be available by the weekend.

 

[natpres]

The mobile version, currently under development.

 

[blackfive460]

Looks promising.
How about a page showing the last few updates for subscribers?

 

[natpres]

There will be a page that will show the last 5 update the member has sent and the latest 5 updates he has received.

You will also be able to search through every update you have had from any tour you subscribed to.

Works well on both Andriod phones and IPhones.

And something that is extremely exciting.

FREE gps tracking on your tours!
You just need to be subscribed to your tour!

GPS tracking will only be available on selected tours though.

 

[blackfive460]

GPS tracking will only be available on selected tours though.

Will that be down to a passenger taking the unit on the train or have you done a deal with the tour operators?
By the way, the 'phone's operating system shouldn't matter but your pages may work better with different browsers. Just make sure that it works with Opera and IE and you should be Ok.
Would still prefer to subscribe for a day (or whatever period) and get the last updates on a text page. Downloading a GPS map plus live data may prove troublesome when the signal drops to basic GPRS.

 

[natpres]

By the way, the 'phone's operating system shouldn't matter but your pages may work better with different browsers. Just make sure that it works with Opera and IE and you should be Ok.

Thats what I meant.

Would still prefer to subscribe for a day (or whatever period) and get the last updates on a text page. Downloading a GPS map plus live data may prove troublesome when the signal drops to basic GPRS.

This is why we offer the SMS version.
Downloading the map is optional.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Mobile version launched,
Currently in Beta but very much LIVE!

http://m.railtour-live.co.uk

Let me know what you think!

 

[blackfive460]

Let me know what you think!

Let us know when you have the GPS unit actually on a train and I'll give it a try.

Edit:
Just had a look on my 'phone. Works fine although I'm connected through BB at the moment. Just one thing; I notice that I need to be subscribed to a tour in order to send in updates about it and thus may receive chargeable updates about that tour. That's fine if I'm at the lineside but not so fine if I'm travelling on the train in question. I would have thought it would be in everyone's interest to encourage updates to be sent in from those travelling who, let's face it, are in the best position to know where a tour is but have no need of getting information back. Now, I know it's possible to send in SMS without subscribing but that's only fine if you get free texts; I don't but can get a daily internet connection for less than the cost of sending three messages. I'd be happy to provide regular updates when travelling but I won't pay to do it. Railtours cost enough already!
Just a thought.

 

[natpres]

Let us know when you have the GPS unit actually on a train and I'll give it a try.

Edit:
Just had a look on my 'phone. Works fine although I'm connected through BB at the moment. Just one thing; I notice that I need to be subscribed to a tour in order to send in updates about it and thus may receive chargeable updates about that tour. That's fine if I'm at the lineside but not so fine if I'm travelling on the train in question. I would have thought it would be in everyone's interest to encourage updates to be sent in from those travelling who, let's face it, are in the best position to know where a tour is but have no need of getting information back. Now, I know it's possible to send in SMS without subscribing but that's only fine if you get free texts; I don't but can get a daily internet connection for less than the cost of sending three messages. I'd be happy to provide regular updates when travelling but I won't pay to do it. Railtours cost enough already!
Just a thought.

Hello,

You don't need to be subscribed to a tour to be able to send updates, if the tour code box is blank, type one in.
However this said, if your subscribed to a tour with no cash in your account, you won't receive any messages anyway.
As we have always insisted, we don't charge you for sending in updates.

Never have done, and never will, all we ask that you become a member.

If the mobile site gives you this impression, tell me at what point, we will try and make things clearer.

 

[Bomber]

I understand that both the 'Broadsman', Liverpool St to Sheringham and Holt and return with Oliver Cromwell, and the 'Settle & Carlisle', Tyseley to Carlisle, and return, Shap out and S&C return, 6201 Princess Elizabeth from Crewe to Crewe, will be covered with regular updates on Railtour Live.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Updates from the 'Settle & Carlisle tour were frequent and informative, very helpful especially when the train was badly delayed at Hellifield due to points failure. It meant that I did not need to go out and stand in the cold wondering where they were up to. Got to Leyland and only had to wait about 20 minutes where they were about 80 minutes down.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Railtour live again proved it's worth last weekend for the Cheshireman, Cleethorpes to Chester and return. Early on there was a problem and reports were that the tour was running nearly an hour late. This time was clawed back and by the time 44871 left Manchester Victoria she was back on time. So all along the way those signed on to receive updates were aware of the changing situation. When I saw the train near Manchester, there were those who arrived after she had gone through.. We thought she was running late....

 

[natpres]

We are now accepting credit cards direct, using BarclayCard.
We also have launched the GPS system.
There is the chance for members to earn cash from referring users.

RailTour Live are currently building an Iphone application.

 

[lifeboat1721]

As well as the Credit cards, Would it be possible to set up a "Paypal" account,

Not everyone likes giving credit card details on line..

Ian

 

[natpres]

Hello, sorry for the delay, we can also accept BAC's payments.
We moved away from PayPal due to the costs involved..

 

[nedchester]

Really don't see why people pay for this at all.

Nowadays you can set up to receive info via something like Twitter which most mobile phone operators will allow free text messaging for both sending and receiving texts.

If railtour live used Twitter for the gen then people could receive the same info for free. Or am I missing something?

(Nationalrail use twitter for their delay info and very useful it is too)

 

[natpres]

We have now reinstated PayPal as an alternative payment processor.