Railway passengers in the UK can use their mobile phones to book and use them as tickets for travel within the UK soon.
The scheme has been launched by Chiltern Railways, which has become the first operator to adopt mobile ticketing.
To avail the facility, passengers will have to first download a free mobile app, which has been developed by London-based Masabi with Atos Origin as the consultant. Once installed, the app can be used to buy and download e-tickets. Readers installed at stations will help ticket inspectors to check the tickets by scanning a barcode.
Masabi chief executive Ben Whitaker said the app provides a convenient option to users to find information about trains and buy tickets.
Whitaker said, "This app places a ticket machine in the pocket of mobile phone users – providing an enormously convenient and user-friendly means of searching for train times and then buying and displaying tickets."
The new mobile ticketing is expected to spread to the entire rail network, as more operators adopt the scheme.
Chiltern marketing director Thomas Ableman said the innovation, a first within the rail industry, comes at a time when they are investing £250m to transform rail travel to and from London.
"The Chiltern Mainline will reduce journey times significantly and our app ensures that passengers spend far less time searching for, queuing, buying and printing tickets."
In the beginning the facility will be available for iPhone, Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericson devices. A version for Android smartphones is expected to be launched soon.
