Producer :ICT Agency of Sri Lanka & Department of Railways

Producer URL :https://market.android.com/details?id=me.dilan

Producer’s Description

Train Schedule Android App is a simple system for accessing the day to day train schedule. The app is freely downloadable from the Android Market to any Android device including smart phones and tablet PCs. The application targets the general public who use the railway for their regular travel as well as tourists and holiday makers. Users able to get upto date information on train arrivals and departures as well as price of train tickets. Given the frequent delays experienced on the local railway network the app is a bonus for travel by train. The app retrieves this information via GPRS or 3G from information up loaded to Lanka Gate, Sri Lanka’s gateway for electronic information and transactions. The accuracy and reliability of the information is assured by the fact that information source is the Department of Railway. The functionality of the software is very simple.   

Jurors’ Evaluation

Rail Transport in Sri Lanka consists of a heavy-rail intercity network connecting major population centers and a commuter rail serving the Colombo commuter traffic. With an average commuter traffic of 300,000 per day the train is undoubtedly a popular mode of travel in Sri Lanka, particularly amongst the local workforce. The reason for this preference is that the train is a low cost and time saving method of transportation as against buses or private vehicles that have to ply on roads which are heavily congested with traffic during rush hours. Many people also use the train for travelling long distances on holidays, visits to relatives and sites of significant interest. The Train Schedule Application is therefore a much needed solution and a clear example of facilitating public access to a government service

This schedule runs on a comprehensive database developed through the collaboration of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka and the Department of Railway. It is the first ever mobile application that uses a web service outside of the Lanka Government Network and leverages on the new and emerging technology of the Android Platform which is rapidly gaining popularity in Sri Lanka. This application has been added to the Android Market only November 2010 but it has five star rating with more than 1500 downloads and around 1000 active users.  

This application can be also a very useful tool for the tourists who travel to Sri Lanka on a small budget.