CrossCountry Trains has launched a mobile ticketing app that also provides real time travel information across all rail networks, making it the first app to deliver live departure times and mobile ticketing in one go.

The Train Tickets app was developed by Masabi, and is available for iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Nokia smartphones and most feature phones, including Sony Ericsson, Samsung and LG, by texting Travel to 87080. It allows customers to plan journeys, buy tickets for any journey in Britain, and have mobile tickets for certain routes delivered to their phone. The app also provides access to live departure boards.

The mTickets come in the form of 2D barcodes and readable tickets. Users activate their mTicket before boarding a train. Inspectors can then verify using a barcode scanner or by confirming the animated colour sequence on their ticket machines.

Where mTickets are not available, customers can collect their tickets using a booking reference number at most UK rail stations. The app also has the option to link in-app purchases to the users web account, giving them a single place to view all their ticket purchases, or print out purchase records for expense claims. CrossCountry does not charge booking or credit card fees on tickets bought on its website, or via the app.