Reserve train seats by texting

Train passengers in the Black Country will soon be able to reserve seats by text message, it has been revealed.

Andy Cooper, the boss of a new rail franchise which links the east of England with the West Midlands, said the service would drive down the number of unused seats and stop passengers from having to stand.

The new CrossCountry service from Arriva trains began a £1 billion, eight-year, franchise yesterday.

Within the next year the company intends to develop a ticketing system which lets people reserve a specific seat on a train minutes before it is due to pull out of a station.

Mr Cooper said: "We knew from our research that many passengers on this route will use more than one train in the course of their journey.

"We want to make it so that they do not have to go up to someone and ask what they need to do.

"They will be able to get information sent to their mobile phone or PDA (personal digital assistant) which will keep them up to date with any changes that may affect their journey.

"Our staff will also be given new equipment which can help them keep track of changes to reservations so that if a seat is not used, it can be made available for someone else."