Boston commuter rail riders can now avoid ticket lines and fumbling with cash thanks to a new mobile ticketing app rolled out, billed as the first smartphone commuter rail ticketing system in the nation. mTicket lets riders buy single or 10-ride tickets for trains.
London-based Masabi is responsible for the mTicket app and back end management. Mobile ticketing means a lot less hassle for commuters. Less than half of the MBTA’s 140 commuter rail stations have fare vending machines, forcing customers to buy tickets on the train. Joshua Robin, Director of Innovation, MBTA, said that in the first few days that the app was available there were about 7000 downloads and about 20,000 dollars worth of tickets sold. Monthly passes will begin rolling out in phases soon. Railways in other cities including New York’s Metro North Railroad are working with Masabi to bring mobile ticketing to its customers as well.
