The Long Island Rail Road, one of the largest commuter railroads in the U.S., is testing PaySaber, a hand-held mobile system, for passenger ticket sales. Customers will be able to pay by credit card onboard the train for the first time with all major credit cards and with a ‘debit-as-creditcard, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Trains running between Ronkonkoma and Greenport will be featuring a PaySaber with an iPhone 4 and using application software that enables them to make credit card sales and print out tickets in one quick and simple transaction.
Although Long Island Rail Road encourages customers to purchase tickets in advance at station ticket windows or Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), PaySaber will add convenience in situations where a customer must buy onboard the train and isn’t carrying sufficient cash.
"This device uses the latest technology to offer a real convenience to customers," said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. "Credit card and debit-as-credit card transactions will allow customers to pay for their LIRR fares even when they don’t have enough cash on hand. It also will help the LIRR to speed up end-of-tour accounting of onboard transactions."
“We live in a time that is more and more a cashless society,said Williams. "Our younger customers in particular often don't carry cash. Smart phone technology is offering new improvements and efficiencies almost every day. It's time for the LIRR to explore how these applications can help provide better customer service."
The PaySaber devices will replace the familiar "duplex" paper ticket and ticket punch system that conductors have been using for decades. Now customers will be issued a smaller ticket printed by the PaySaber with no punching of the ticket required at the time of issue.
A select group of LIRR conductors have been training on the PaySabers. Crew members offered a number of key suggestions that led to improvements during the development and design of the application, and they will also be involved in the evaluation of the system during and after the pilot program.
PaySaber is expected to make it faster and easier for LIRR crews to account for cash at the end of tours, and the number of onboard fare disputes are expected to decrease. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/LongIslandPress and http://tinyurl.com/1gothamist.
About USA ePay:
Since 1998 USA ePay, a GorCorp Inc. company, has been helping merchants process their credit card and check transactions with speed and security. Founded by the Goretsky brothers, the company is family-owned and based in Los Angeles, CA. Currently the USA ePay gateway supports all of the major platforms (e.g. First Data, TSYS, Global, Paymentech) in the credit card industry and works with some of the leading check platforms. USA ePay is also pleased to work with many of the larger merchant service banks in the US and abroad. For more information, please visit http://www.usaepay.com or call 866.USA.EPAY (872-3729).
About LIRR:
Customers can get information about the on-board credit card pilot program by calling the LIRR's Travel Information Center at 718-217-5477 (718-217-LIRR). If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider or the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 718-217-5477.
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