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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. Metro-North riders in Fairfield County may soon be able to buy and display their tickets electronically on their smart phones. Next month the mobile ticketing app will be tested on railroad employees, the MTA announced Wednesday.
During the pilot, railroad employees will download the free app to their iPhone, Android or Blackberry phones. The app allows users to buy any type of ticket using their credit or debit cards. The time and date stamped on the ticket shows up on the screen, which conductors can validate visually. There is also a bar code that can be scanned by the conductors handheld device.
We are as excited to begin testing the next generation ticket selling technology as we were when we introduced ticket vending machines a quarter of a century ago, said Metro-North President Howard Permut in a statement. The latest test is intended to ensure that the newest technology will be equally easy to use, as well as secure and reliable.
A time measurement study will be conducted during the test to compare the new method to current on-board ticket selling, collection and inspection. Efficacy and anti-fraud measures also will be tested. If the test is successful, Metro-North will seek to expand the program to its customers.
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