Ticket to ride
The first iPhone app enabling people to receive train tickets directly to their iPhone has launched in the UK and it is hoped it will save travellers time compared to collecting a normal paper ticket at the station.
It's an idea that has captured commuters' imaginations for years- a way to avoid tedious early-morning queues for train tickets that invariably leave workers stressed and late- and now it seems regular users of the Heathrow Express will be happy at least.
Heathrow Express has launched an app to allow customers to purchase tickets and receive a barcode on their phone, in what it claims is the first app of its kind in the UK.
Together with mobile boarding passes which are now available some routes, smartphones are making it easier for travellers to get away without the need for bits of paper in their pockets.
The app is free and features live updates as well as the facility to purchase tickets. The ‘secure' app has been accredited by Barclays and is compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, the international standard for data security. It accepts all major credit and debit cards, except Maestro.
Richard Robinson, Heathrow Express MD said: "Developing an app which allows iPhone users to book and receive Heathrow Express tickets directly continues our strategic approach to offer fully functional mobile ticketing. We have used the smooth interface and exceptional visual quality of the iPhone to create an easy to use app which is as seamless as our service."
