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MBTA's Ticketing App Debuts On Commuter Boats

A popular program that allows some commuter rail customers to purchase and display tickets on their smartphones is being expanded to include commuter boats and rail lines south and west of Boston.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority unveiled its "mTicketing" app two weeks ago on the four commuter rail lines north of Boston. The app allows customers to simply flash their smartphones to show conductors their tickets.

The app is scheduled to make its debut Wednesday morning on commuter boats and all eight rail lines south and west of Boston. Also beginning Wednesday, mTicket customers can buy monthly passes for commuter rail at a $10 discount.

MBTA Acting General Manager Jonathan Davis says it will still be some time before riders will be able to use cellphones in place of tickets on buses and subways.

"We have a little more technical challenges to work out as it relates to the integration with the bus and subway system," Davis said. "We're working on that, but we didn't want it to preclude the convenience to those customers who only use the commuter rail."

To mark the expansion, senior MBTA staff and local elected officials are planning to take commuter boat service from Hingham to Boston Wednesday.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom.

This article was originally published on November 28, 2012.

This program aired on November 28, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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