Conn. launches mobile ticketing for passenger rail
The app, CTrail eTix, is a more convenient way to pay rail fare without needing to carry and display a paper ticket.

The app can be used to purchase Shore Line East and Hartford Line tickets, with optional connecting service on New Haven Line (Metro-North) trains using a single device in one transaction.
Interstate Railfan

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) launched a mobile app providing commuters of the CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East with the ability to purchase tickets for the respective rail lines using their smartphone devices. The app, CTrail eTix, is a more convenient way to pay rail fare without needing to carry and display a paper ticket.
With CTrail eTix, passengers can purchase tickets using a credit or debit card and store them electronically on their device. When ready to use a mobile ticket, the passenger opens the CTrail eTix app and presses a button to activate the mobile ticket. After the ticket is activated, passengers then show it to the train conductor from their smartphone screen.
The app can be used to purchase Shore Line East and Hartford Line tickets, with optional connecting service on New Haven Line (Metro-North) trains using a single device in one transaction.

CTDOT conducted a pilot program of a beta version of the application in April 2019. In that pilot program, a selected group of CTrail passengers was able to complete purchases of mobile tickets and used the app to board CTrail trains. During the testing phase, the app was received with enthusiasm and users rated the application highly. Input and feedback from the pilot participants have been incorporated into CTrail eTix version 1.0, which is now available to the public for download and use.
More Rail

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility
Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
Read More →
California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
Read More →
Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
Read More →
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
Read More →
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →