Passengers to have train tickets texted to their phones (From Harrow Times)

Passengers to have train tickets texted to their phones

3:01pm Monday 23rd October 2006

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CHILTERN Railways, which runs services through Harrow-on-the-Hill, is to be be the first train operator in the UK to deliver tickets to mobile phones.

New technology sends a bar code to the passenger's phone via a text message, which is then scanned at the ticket gates.

The company said the servcie could be be available as early as the end of the year.

A pilot scheme will run for three months before it is decided if the service will be made permanent.

Ticket purchases on the move from mobile phones will be possible at a later stage, as well as via the internet and other retail channels.

Chiltern's commercial director Neil Micklethwaite, said: "We are happy to be leading the industry as the first train operating company to sell mobile ticketing to our passengers in this format.

"We have listened to our passengers and what they want is a simpler and easier way to purchase tickets for their travel.

"Mobile ticketing will mean easy purchases, anywhere, any time.

"The pilot we are launching will be for our very popular Eday ticket, priced from £5 each.

"There are many benefits to mobile ticketing, but the most important is that it's simple and convenient providing lower cost tickets for our passengers giving the customer even further value for money."

Working with Chiltern Railways on the project is YourRail, whose director Martin Hathaway said: "This innovation comes at an time when virtually all rail passengers carry mobile phones and growth in both mobile communication and rail transport remains strong.

"People who are on the move turn to their mobile phones to manage their lives and we believe organising their transport this way will be a popular.

"Our mobile ticketing system will show Chiltern passengers that they can be in control of their ticket purchases, when it is convenient for them.

"Chiltern Railways understands and listens to their market and the result is that passengers want a quicker, easier and more convenient ticketing structure.

"Mobile ticketing is the perfect solution."

YourRail's technology will later let Chiltern'' passengers make other purchases and provide them with information about their journeys at any time.

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