Bytemark Awarded Contract To Develop Secure Mobile Ticketing And Payments System For FutureRailway Program In The U.K.
-- New system will offer robust features for ticket purchases, rail schedules, arrival times and even hands-free smartphone fare validation
LONDON, Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bytemark, a leading provider of mobile commerce solutions for the mass transit industry, today announced it has been awarded the contract to create a mobile payments infrastructure and smartphone app for the FutureRailway program in the United Kingdom. FutureRailway is the delivery team working on behalf of the cross-industry Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG) to implement the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS). FutureRailway operates as a collaboration between RSSB and Network Rail and was originally established to accelerate the uptake of innovation within the rail industry.
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Bytemark executives will be discussing today's announcement with transportation industry representatives at the Transport Ticketing & Passenger Information Conference, which takes place January 27-29 at the Lancaster Hotel in London.
Once completed, the FutureRailway smartphone app developed by Bytemark will offer transport operators and commuters several convenient methods for purchasing and activating rail tickets. The system will leverage the Bluetooth LE wireless technology resident on modern smartphones, enabling riders to have their rail fare validated by simply walking through fare-gates equipped with new wireless readers. As long as their phone and Bluetooth is powered on, riders won't even need to remove their smartphone from their pocket or briefcase. The new app will offer a host of other convenient features as well including access to rail schedules, a rail system map, arrival times, GPS-based location services, and more.
"The FutureRailway initiative and its rail industry partners have come together to create a very progressive and strategic vision for their industry, and Bytemark is honored to be a part of the team that will help make that vision a reality," said Micah Bergdale, CEO of Bytemark. "We continue to be selected as the mobile ticketing and mobile payments vendor of choice across the mass transit ecosystem, and we are pleased to be awarded this important contract with FutureRailway."
The FutureRailway contract award is the latest in a string of mass transit contract wins for Bytemark. In 2014 Bytemark completed the implementation of a mobile ticketing and payments systems for Capital Metro, the regional transportation provider for Austin, Texas. Bytemark also recently launched a mobile ticketing app for the South Shore Line, a commuter rail connecting South Bend, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois, and released a major upgrade to the mobile ticketing app it developed for NY Waterway, the largest private ferry operator in the United States. Bytemark was also awarded contracts to implement its mobile ticketing solution in Toronto, ON, Canada for Metrolinx's UP Express.
ABOUT BYTEMARK
A New York City startup with offices in the UK and Australia, Bytemark provides mobile ticketing and payment solutions for transit, attractions, and events. In January 2012, Bytemark launched the first mobile ticketing app for a major U.S. transit agency with the release of the NY Waterway app. Bytemark is focused on providing its partners with the tools they need to navigate the rapidly evolving mobile ticketing industry. Transit in the U.S. has been underserved by the expansion of mobile technology, and Bytemark is working to bridge the gap between the transit industry and America's growing technology sector. For more information, visit www.bytemark.co
ABOUT FUTURERAILWAY
FutureRailway is the delivery team working on behalf of the cross-industry Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG) to implement the Rail Technical Strategy. As such, FutureRailway is supported by the whole rail industry and its supply chain, and operates as a collaboration between RSSB and Network Rail. It incorporates the activities of the former Enabling Innovation Team which was set up by the rail industry to accelerate the uptake of innovation. The mission is to offer support to practical cross-industry demonstrator projects, but also seeking out innovative ideas and proposals from across the industry. The approach is to: understand the challenges that industry faces; connect potential innovators with these challenges; and, where necessary with potential funding. The team is hosted by RSSB, and reports into TSLG, and is supported by the Rail Delivery Group, RSSB's Board as well as the Department for Transport.
ABOUT RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board)
We help the industry understand risk, guide standards, manage research, development and innovation and collaborate to improve. The rail industry in Britain is made up of many different organisations, but they all form a system and share a common purpose, to move people and freight safely and efficiently by rail. RSSB bring all parts of this system together to support shared decisions, products and services, to help industry drive out unnecessary cost, improve business performance and develop long-term strategy. Our activities involve:
- Understanding risk – Using safety intelligence from across the rail industry and elsewhere with the latest risk modelling to inform members and support safe decision making.
- Guiding standards – Creating, reviewing and simplifying GB standards to align with European requirements; managing the Rule Book and making it easier for the railway to deliver efficiently and safely.
- Managing research, development and innovation – Undertaking, commissioning and managing research and innovation programmes to address current needs, provide knowledge for decision making now and for the future, and promoting step changes to deliver the Rail Technical Strategy – including the FutureRailway programme.
- Collaborating to improve – As an independent cross-industry body with a critical mass of technical expertise, supporting activities which require collaboration. These range from supplier assurance schemes (RISQS, RISAS) to confidential reporting (CIRAS), from health and wellbeing strategies to sustainability principles.
We are run by the industry, for the industry, with member companies from across the mainline system. The demand for our services comes from the industry itself, and from the involvement of cross-industry groups. For more information go to www.rssb.co.uk
MEDIA CONTACT
Megan Kathman
Skyya Communications
www.skyya.com
ph: (651) 785-3212
megan.kathman@skyya.com
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