Editing National Rail (section)

==National Rail Enquiries==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Nationalrail.co.uk homepage 2022.jpg|thumb|right|nationalrail.co.uk in 2022{{FFDC|Nationalrail.co.uk homepage 2022.jpg|log=2023 November 28}}]] -->

The National Rail website, previously called National Rail Enquiries, handles an average of 2.5 million journey planning enquiries every weekday through its website, apps and contact centre, and through information services supplied to third parties (such as open access data feeds).<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Rail Enquiries renames itself 'National Rail'|url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/about-this-site/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=National Rail }}</ref>

It is the UK's largest and most accurate travel information website, peaking at more than 10 million visitors per day, more than its nearest competitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How National Rail Enquiries manages peaks of 10 million visitors per day|url=https://www.cds.co.uk/our-work/national-rail-enquiries |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=CDS }}</ref>

The National Rail website includes a [[journey planner]], fare and live departure information. The site is designed to complement the myriad different websites of Britain's privatised rail companies, so when users have selected which tickets they wish to buy, they are redirected to the most relevant train company website, where they can buy their tickets without booking fees.

In 2012 the website was joined by a [[mobile app]] mirroring its functionality. The app is available for [[iPhone]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[Windows Phone]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2012 |title=National Rail Enquiries announces a new app for iPhone & Android |url=https://blog.nationalrail.co.uk/2012/05/01/national-rail-enquiries-announces-a-new-app-for-iphone-android/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008175316/https://blog.nationalrail.co.uk/2012/05/01/national-rail-enquiries-announces-a-new-app-for-iphone-android/ |archive-date=8 October 2016 |access-date=1 October 2016 |website=National Rail blog |publisher=National Rail Enquiries}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Download our FREE app and become more mobile and get FREE alerts |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/84874.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930092937/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/84874.aspx |archive-date=30 September 2016 |access-date=1 October 2016 |website=National Rail Enquiries |publisher=National Rail}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Updated version of nationalrail.co.uk homepage 2023.jpg|thumb|right|nationalrail.co.uk in 2023{{FFDC|Updated version of nationalrail.co.uk homepage 2023.jpg|log=2023 November 28}}]] -->

In June 2020, a real time personalised messaging service, Alert Me, was launched, providing real-time disruption and crowding information via Messenger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Rail to notify passengers of busy trains and stations |url=https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/101440/national-rail-passengers-busy-trains-station/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Global Railway Review}}</ref> This was followed in September 2021 by a similar service made available through WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sapién |first=Josephine Cordero |date=2021-09-03 |title=National Rail Enquiries Launches 'Alert Me by WhatsApp' |url=https://railway-news.com/national-rail-enquiries-launches-alert-me-by-whatsapp/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Railway-News}}</ref> The service was closed in June 2023 leaving only a simple SMS based messaging service in place for customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkins |first=Matt |date=2023-07-26 |title=Rail operators offered free WhatsApp and Messenger use for real-time passenger communication |url=https://railuk.com/travel/rail-operators-offered-free-whatsapp-and-messenger-use-for-real-time-passenger-communication/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Rail UK}}</ref> Both services were provided by a British transport technology company Zipabout.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-27 |title=Transport Secretary chooses British tech start up Zipabout to help inform passengers and get Britain moving again |url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/transport-secretary-chooses-british-tech-start-up-zipabout-to-help-inform-passengers-and-get-britain-moving-again/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=RailBusinessDaily}}</ref>

In April 2021 the National Rail website turned from colour to greyscale in a tribute to [[The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] who had died. The gesture however backfired after users highlighted accessibility issues and complained they could no longer use the website.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-04-21 |title=Visually impaired users complain after rail websites go greyscale for Prince Philip |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/12/visually-impaired-users-complain-rail-websites-greyscale-prince-philip |access-date=2023-09-12 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> However, the website was quickly reverted back to its original design the same day following customer accessibility feedback.

In July 2021 the Department of Transport published the world’s first ‘greenprint’ to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050 in the UK. It was published two months before the climate summit COP26, and planned to provide a world-leading ‘greenprint’ to cut emissions from 'seas and skies, roads and railways'.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-14 |title=Transport decarbonisation plan for cleaner air, healthier communities and tens of thousands of new green jobs |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-worlds-first-greenprint-to-decarbonise-all-modes-of-domestic-transport-by-2050 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.gov.uk}}</ref> The nationalrail.co.uk website also signed up to the same carbon commitment, which was referred to as 'The Green Travel Pledge' and was cited on its website and via Rail Delivery Group media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-29 |title=Rail is the most environmentally friendly way to travel and plays a critical role in helping to tackle climate change. Taking the train is the green way to go. |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/sustainability/green-train-travel/ |access-date=2023-11-29  |website=www.nationalrail.co.uk/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-15 |title=The Rail Delivery Group was set up in 2011 to provide leadership to Britain's rail industry, bringing together the owners of Britain's passenger train operators |url=https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/our-views/our-blog/2022/469776931-just-the-ticket-green-travel-pledge.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.raildeliverygroup.com}}</ref>

In June 2023 the website was completely overhauled with an entirely new frontend retaining little of the old designs but the brand logo remained. The website is quoted as saying its website is, "cleaner, more modern, and full of better information".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-16 |title=Welcome to the new national rail website |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/welcome-to-the-new-national-rail-website/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=nationalrail.co.uk}}</ref> In addition, its original mobile website which was a sub-domain (m.nationalrail.co.uk now redirects) was switched off.

Earlier in 2024 National Rail's digital [[journey planner]] was also switched off and redirected to the new version. Online Journey Planner (OJP) was the engine used to plan routes, calculate fares and establish ticket availability. The OJP accesses real-time information directly from Darwin, meaning all journey plans take account of delays, schedule changes and train cancellations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-14 |title=nationalrail Darwin Feeds |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/developers/darwin-data-feeds/ |access-date=2024-07-10|website=nationalrail.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-09 |title=The Rail Delivery Group |url=https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/our-services/customer-services/nre-data.html |access-date=2024-07-09|website=raildeliverygroup.com}}</ref> The OJP data feed APIs are available for use under licence. Darwin is the data system that powers all the real-time information which customers use to check the status of train journeys. In 2024 Darwin celebrated its 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-14 |title=railbusinessdaily.com |url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/celebrating-20-years-of-darwin/ |access-date=2024-07-09|website=news.railbusinessdaily.com}}</ref>