Best Travel and Transport iPhone and iPad Apps for Londoners 2013 edition

Visiting the capital? You'll want to take a look at this round-up.
Incredibly it was been three and a half years since my last post on this subject, so it's only suitable to update you on what new apps have emerged and which have stood the test of time. The iPad wasn't even available back then so there's so helpful tips relating to those apps too.

London Tube Deluxe  (£0.69) - This (renamed) application is STILL the best transport app around for London. The developer has kept it up to date with new map releases which is always reassuring going forward. He has also integrated all of London transport into one app, so this now covers all TfL services but with a particular focus on the underground system and buses. There is both an iPhone and iPad version available.  It gives you live status updates (including via Push Notifications if you enable the feature), station closures and service messages, several hi-res tube maps, journey planning (this only works when connected to the internet, but you can access previous journey histories when offline so just plan before you lose connection), live departure boards so can check how long it is until the next few trains from pretty much every station, Timetables (first trains, now, and last trains) and weekend line closures. It also overs 750+ bus routes. What more could you need?

Next Bus London (£1.99) - Since the last update TfL has aupdated their buses to enable live tracking via mobile  phones. All you have to do is go to any bus stop, key in the number displayed on it and check when your next bus is coming. This app makes all that simple! You can even use GPS to locate stops near you.

National Rail Enquiries - The great news is that this app is now free! It used to cost £4.99 and is even more powerful than before! Here are its features: Journey planning for single and return journeys across the whole UK rail network, with departure platform information (where available), you'll be told about delays and cancellations when searching for trains and be given alternatives, live departures and arrivals at all National Rail stations in the UK with live train progress, add multiple stations to the application's home screen to one-touch access to their live departures, automatically find your nearest stations, and the 'Next Train Home' feature finds your nearest station and plans the quickest journey home. You can now also plan journeys between a station and a postcode and find and buy train tickets.

Tube Exits (£0.69) - Still a favourite and now at a third of the price! Ever wanted to know where the station exit is and on what carriage you should get on? Tube Exits has the answer. It can also tell you what carriage to get on for the nearest interchange to other lines saving you valuable time, especially in peak hours and will even tell you what side the doors will open on. No internet connection required. You can also plan journeys using the app.

iRefund (£0.69) - Still a great app - Have you ever been delayed by the Tube for more than 15 minutes? Then you are probably entitled to a refund (refunds cannot be made if the delay is beyond TfL or its contractors control such as: security alerts, third party action or adverse weather conditions. This also applies to service changes alerted in advance. For all other situations, you are entitled to a full refund, but this can be time consuming so the App does everything for you. When the delay starts, open the app and tell it, when it is over, tell it the delay has finished - the details are saved. Once back above ground click to submit. Your Oyster card, address, name  and other static details are only needed once and will be saved for all future claims. Literally, in under 30 seconds, you can be claiming your refund. It also keeps track of your claim history so you can cross-reference the claims that you have yet to be paid for. Best of all with just one refund the App has paid for itself! A definite must for londoners. (The image of the App on the top left has changed to one of a train lately)

GetTaxi (free) - Catching a cab in London can be a pain. You stick your hand out and wait, and wait and eventually one will let you in. Sometimes you'll spend ages waiting on a corner wondering when you're cab will be coming that you booked 10 minutes ago! Only got cash? Most taxis won't take it! GetTaxi is the solution to all three of these problems! It's a simple app which loactes you via GPS, you can then book a cab in a matter of seconds and then track it until it reaches you with the estimated arrival time, distance and live map locator. And with a range of payment options you can pay however you wish: via cash, card or a business account! This is the best taxi app for Londoners!