A FREE service offering up-to-date information on First Great Western trains has been used by more than 100,000 customers since its launch just four months ago.

The Catch Your Train service, which started in May in response to customer demand, provides information via the internet and mobile phones and helps travellers plan their journeys more effectively.

Customers can log on using the internet, WAP phones or Personal Digital Assistants to find arrival and departure times of the Swindon company's services at every station it serves.

Tim Hayne, First Great Western's e-commerce manager, said: "It seems to have caught on. It means you don't need a timetable to find out what trains are available up to an hour and a half ahead.

"And because it also includes arrival details, if you're meeting someone you can find out exactly what time they are due."

The company says customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

And it is also looking to make improvements by including information about its on-train food service and future engineering works.

Mr Hayne said: "Our aim is to transform travel, and making it simpler for customers to find out what services are available to them makes it easier to use public transport.

"We launched the service initially on a trial basis, but as it has been so popular, with almost 40,000 visits in July alone, we are determined to continue and expand."