Amtrak is on the express train of mobile technology.
This week, the company announced that its passengers will soon be able to use electronic tickets for their travels aboard Amtrak.
Riders will have the choice of either printing scannable tickets or loading a special bar code on their smartphone screens. iPhone-ready conductors will then be able to scan the tickets or barcodes.
From the New York Times:
Amtrak joins a growing number of businesses that are using mobile devices to improve operations. Some pilots are using iPads to replace flight manuals in the cockpit, a few police departments are experimenting with using iPhones to identify suspects, and doctors are using iPads to access patient records and X-ray charts.
It is projected that by the end of this summer, 1,700 conductors will be using iPhones on Amtrak trains across the United States.
“You don’t even need to print the document and bring it with you,” said Matt Hardison, chief of sales distribution at Amtrak. “We’ve made a number of important improvements for both our customers and Amtrak, all in one fell swoop.”