I agree with you, you can get the info from websites, ask people at stations, etc. But what if you're waiting at a bridge, or along the line, miles from a station, wondering if its on time?
Yes, the information is available on the web - but not doing it because its already online would defeat the point of apps in the first place - how many apps are out there that just replicate what you can find on the internet?
I'm talking about an app, that the train drivers would set going in the cab (so its a very limited market), but they'd be able to control the updates, and whats on them through a very easy to use screen. Sending updates on the position in realtime is just one part of it, they could plug other tours, attract further business, raise brand awareness.
The model of charging for a service online is dying very quickly - offering something free and then upselling is what a lot of these companies are doing (I'm not talking about train companies, just in general) - so isn't it about time that the steam companies could offer something similar - give out some information for free, make a big song and dance that you can do real time tracking, and then you can plug further tours and the overall goal being to increase bookings and raise more money for the operators to keep the steam trains going. They would have to fund the development of the app, I'm willing to put something together that may benefit them, that every train tour company could tailor to promote themselves by using apps and Twitter as the medium to do it.
Its just convincing them that its worthwhile and trialling it with an operator to get their thoughts on what it could for them would be key with any project, regardless of whether its an app or not, hence the question of does anyone have any links with train companies, eg A1 Steam
Jason
