Running late? National Rail will send passengers travel updates via Facebook Messenger

Disruption is a given on Britain's railways at the moment, so National Rail has begun a trial with Facebook Messenger that will allow passengers to receive updates on their phone.

Those who sign up to the travel alerts will receive personalised travel information through Facebook Messenger, such as information on alternative trains, for both one-off journeys and regular commutes. The technology, developed by Zipabout, will also provide options for multi-leg journeys if routes are disrupted or delayed.

The information provided will cover any delays greater than 10 per cent of the total journey time.

National Rail's Crispin Humm said: "We are committed to putting our customers at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’re investing to deliver new technology that will allow us to provide a more tailored service, keeping our customers informed during times of disruption. This new tool will provide customers with useful and relevant information so that they will feel in control of their journeys."

Earlier this month it was revealed that rail services' punctuality and reliability have dropped by 2.5 per cent in the UK, as signal failures, extreme weather and management issues led to more late-running trains for long-suffering commuters.

Statistics from rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road released earlier this month for the second quarter of 2018-19 showed  that East Coast operator LNER suffered its worst punctuality levels in over a decade this year.