UK mobile rail ticket pioneer Masabi has been awarded the contract to launch the first smartphone rail ticketing system in the USA. It’ll be working with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, enabling passengers to buy and display rail tickets on their smartphones across the MBTA’s rail network.
Masabi’s mTicketing solution will include consumer-facing iPhone, Android and BlackBerry applications, backend servers, payment integration and validation software for train conductors.
This is Masabi’s first contract outside of the UK, where it works with 11 rail operators and ticketing providers. The new US service will launch as a pilot in late summer with a full roll-out expected in the autumn.
Giacomo Biggiero, Director of Masabi US, said “By placing a personalized ticket machine in the pocket of commuters, they can now buy tickets wherever they are, faster than ever before. MBTA will also see significant benefits in terms of reducing costly cash handling charges and the cost of additional ticket machines. We are delighted to be working with them to launch our first mTicketing system in the U.S.”