NYC Rail Lines to Trial Mobile Ticketing

[cdmagurus.com]

The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has agreed to allow Metro-North Railroad (MNR) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to trial a mobile ticketing service run by Masabi. The system would let smartphone owners buy their train tickets from their mobile phone any time and use their phone to display their ticket, rather than use a paper ticket. Masabi says its JustRide platform is secure and will allow the MNR and LIRR to manage mobile ticketing with minimal effort. Masabi's mobile ticketing platform will give the two transit companies reporting and real-time analytics, as well as customer service management. The mobile app can be used to purchase all types of tickets, including one-way, round-trip, ten-trip, and weekly/monthly passes. Once purchased, tickets are sent electronically in encrypted form to the smartphone owner. Conductors will be able to validate and/or scan the on-screen tickets with their own handheld device. Neither MNR nor LIRR, which are the two busiest rail lines in the New York region, said exactly when the trial will commence. NJTransit is already trialling a similar mobile ticketing service. Many airlines allow passengers to use mobile boarding passes, but U.S. mass transit has yet to significantly adopt mobile ticketing.


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