Caltrain, moovel North America team for mobile fare payment app

This weekend, Caltrain will launch Caltrain Mobile, the rail agency’s official mobile ticketing application that allows riders to purchase and activate tickets from their smart phone devices.

Caltrain Mobile, which was designed by moovel North America LLC, will enhance the overall customer experience for Caltrain riders by making it unnecessary to visit ticketing machines before boarding at stations. The app offers One-Way, Day Pass, and Zone Upgrade digital tickets for adults and passengers who qualify for discounted fare.

Caltrain Mobile is ideal for occasional and weekend riders headed to special events, day trips, sporting events, and visiting friends. Ticket prices are the same as paper tickets and there are no additional fees. Tickets for multiple people can be purchased and stored on a single phone. Tickets are activated immediately upon purchase and the rules are the same as the ticket machine.

Caltrain Mobile can run on iOS and Android operating systems and will accept major credit and debit cards.

The app includes a Trip Tools option that allows riders to access the Caltrain website for schedules and link up with the MuniMobile and VTA EZFare ticketing apps. There’s also a My Account section where riders can manage their stored information, email address, adjust on-file billing methods, and view transaction history.

Digital tickets purchased through the application have several built-in security and authenticity features, such as changing background colors and animation.

The Caltrain Board awarded the contract to moovel, who is also the mobile ticketing provider for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, for development of a mobile ticketing solution in January 2017.

Future app updates could include daily parking permit purchases, trip planning, and real-time information on service updates, among other functions.