Apple Pay and Masterpass digital wallet technology are making their way to New York, with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announcing the addition of the two payment methods to MTA eTix, the mobile ticketing app that enables Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road customers to buy tickets whenever they want.
According to a report, starting Thursday (Oct. 6), customers will be able to use both services to buy one-way, round-trip, 10-trip, weekly and monthly passes and CityTickets on MTA eTix.
“We have worked tirelessly to rebuild and reimagine New York’s transit system for the 21st century, and a key part of those efforts is to incorporate the amenities that modern-day riders demand,” Gov. Cuomo said, according to a report. “By adding the use of cutting-edge technology like Apple Pay and Masterpass, we are not only making mass transit easier to use but are also improving the overall experience of riders.”
Earlier in the summer, Gov. Cuomo said MTA eTix would be accelerated so riders of both railroads would be able to use the app by the end of the summer. The rollout began on June 30 with the LIRR Port Washington Branch and Metro-North Hudson Line. It then became available on Metro-North’s Harlem Line on July 25 and finally became available on the rest of the LIRR and Metro-North’s New Haven Line on Aug. 22. “We’re pleased to welcome both Apple Pay and Masterpass to the eTix experience. We believe that the addition of these secure payment options will help us to do an even better job of meeting the needs of our customers, and we look forward to further building the user base for the app in the weeks and months ahead,” added MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas F. Prendergast.