Transportation company National Rail Enquires is letting travelers access train information via a BlackBerry application that lets them track schedules and plan trips in England, Wales and Scotland.

The launch of the Train Times BlackBerry app follows the app?s release on Vodafone and Nokia devices. The app was developed by mobile developing company Mobile Commerce.

?The app is aimed at regular commuters in the United Kingdom,? said Bryan Stockwell, business development director of Mobile Commerce, Gloucestershire, England.

?We believe BlackBerry devices are a good fit for this target market,? he said.

Mobile Commerce is a British-based provider of mobile search and location services.

Tickets while traveling
The goal of the app is to make traveling easier and faster for consumers.

Travelers can check train times or schedule a trip via the app.

Users can also access real-time updates to change their travel plans and see nearby train stations.

The My Commute function lets commuters set a home and work station for quick reference.

Additionally, users can email travel details, set alerts and add journeys to their BlackBerry calendars to stay up-to-date on their daily itinerary.

?There?s a definite need for people on the move to be up to date with train timetables and find out live information as to where their train is - it?s something smart phone users are coming to expect,? Mr. Stockwell said.

On-the-go tickets
National Rail Enquiries is not the only company using mobile to help consumers organize and book their travels.

In March, U.S. Coachways used mobile surveys and SMS to keep consumers informed on their travels.

In addition, mobile has been an ideal medium for consumers to book their trips.

More travelers are on the go and always have their mobile device on hand.

Companies are seeing that it is now a necessity to have a mobile presence ? whether it is a mobile site, apps or SMS reminders ? to keep up with tech-savvy users and always stay on top of mind.

Recently, an executive from Expedia recently said that 5 percent of users prefer to book trips on their mobile devices (see story).

The shift in consumer buying habits on mobile signals a growth in the space.

?Mobile usage will continue to grow and services such as this will become increasingly important for people to access on their mobile devices.? Mr. Stockwell said.

Final Take
Lauren Johnson is editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York