Brit rail passengers can now receive alerts by WhatsApp when their train is delayed or cancelled

UK train passengers can now get alerts via WhatsApp if their trip is delayed or cancelled.

Further information about train issues, different routes to take and how busy carriages are can all be sent via the messaging app thanks to a collaboration with Zipabout.

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Similar alerts were previously avaliable via Facebook Messenger.

To sign up to the service you need to go to the National Rail Enquiries website.

Plan your train journey on the site and click the “Keep me updated by WhatsApp” option.

Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “This is a brilliant new way of making rail journeys even easier.

“By sending helpful updates through the apps people already use, passengers can get the information they need quickly, simply and wherever they are on the rail network.”

Zipabout chief executive Alex Froom said: “WhatsApp is the most popular app in the UK and presents a great opportunity for the rail industry to engage with a huge audience.

“Alert Me by WhatsApp is not a chatbot and is the first instance of anyone using the app to share personalised updates in real-time on their preferred, pre-existing communication channels.”

Zipabout is a UK-based firm that can provide customised travel information.

It’s hoped the service can help people smoothly return to work and school after the summer holidays.

So far, almost three million personalised journey updates have been sent during the pandemic.

In other news, TikTok has had to ban a dangerous viral “milk crate challenge”.

WhatsApp is working on a feature that could see your messages disappear after 90 days.

And, Twitter is having to make changes to its redesign of the app after users complained about headaches and migraines.

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