Nexus Alpha Ltd

Getting the most out of JourneyCheck Alerts

JourneyCheck Alerts is now offered to commuters by more than half of the UK train operating companies.

In order to register for alerts (email and/or SMS alerts), Registration links can generally be found on the train company's websites.

Alternatively, please follow these links:

Having registered, you can then set up a journey between stations. You can register a time window and the point at which you'd like to start receiving alerts - so you are not restricted to alerts relating to single train services.

A registration page on JourneyCheck Alerts

More background with a nod and a wink to the TARDIS *

Commuters using the service often register to receive an SMS alert (where this service is provided) in the morning before they leave home for the station, and an email in the evening before leaving for the journey home. We are seeing an increasing shift towards email registration as mobile email becomes more readily available via smartphones and similar devices. JourneyCheck Alerts can of course describe any incident(s) in more detail on an email than in the 160 characters available via SMS, so the information via email is richer and contains more detail.

SMS messages are only sent out if disruption is reported, whereas a confirmation email is sent out whether or not there are current problems.

It should be remembered that you are asking to be informed about disruption in the future - disruption that may not yet have happened, of course! That's why JourneyCheck Alerts will continue to inform you via email or SMS if disruption on your route changes. That's also why the solution will also keep you informed until the last train within the "time interest window" you defined has arrived at your destination station. (Note that this will result in you being informed about a service you may already be on, or indeed a service running after your own that still falls within your window of interest - the solution is to reduce the size of the window. Indeed, single trains can be targetted by setting a time window just a couple of minutes around your scheduled time of departure.)

So do think about the time range you are interested in potentially catching a service between, and how long before that time you want to be initially informed. Too far ahead, and the disruption may not yet have happened (but you will be informed the minute anything changes). Too close to departure time and the disruption might be of less value, you already being "committed" to that journey.

Our aim is to keep you as informed and up-to-date as possible.

One key stength of JourneyCheck Alerts is the access it has to a geographical database which maps all of the rail lines used by the rail companies. As a result, the solution can automatically work out if you are likely to be affected by general route disruption, and will warn you about any future services that may be disrupted due to recently reported route disruption.

This provides the best chance of giving you the most accurate picture of not only what has happened, but what will be likely to happen as a major disruption develops.

Disruption Complexities

The rail network is complex, with route problems often having knock on effects. By way of example, perhaps a number of drivers are travelling back to London from a depot when their service has to be cancelled due to a lineside fire. What about the sixteen trains they were due to drive...?

... And a slightly delayed train may be about to split into two, and in missing a "path" during a busy period (an available slot on the tracks), it could become stuck behind a slower train on a slower line...

... And that train may form another one that has to be away by a certain time, or it will be blocked by another train... and so it goes on.

The Control Room staff who make the operational decisions required during disruption, look to mitigate the effect of disruption on customers. They use our Tyrell software to capture and send information to both operational staff and to customer service staff. It is this information that goes straight into JourneyCheck Alerts, and which is then sent to you.

* So back to the TARDIS, and working out what is going to happen in the future... Think about Time And Relative Disruption In between Stations (with thanks to the Doctor!)

Our aim is to keep you as informed and up-to-date as possible.

We'd like to hear your views of JourneyCheck Alerts. Please use the Contact Us page and let us know what you think of the service.

The shorthand station name codes used on text messages ("CRS Codes") can be found by clicking on the following links:

We only use the CRS codes as abbreviations to describe the "from" and "to" locations you have registered for, so there is no need to memorise them all!