New York's Metro-North And LIRR Apps To Combine With MTA E-Tix: MTA

MID HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Why have three apps when you could have one, according to the MTA.

In mid-August, the transportation agency plans to combine its Metro-North Train Time, Long Island Rail Road TrainTime and MTA eTix apps into one seamless app called TrainTime, the MTA announced Wednesday..

People will be able to track their Metro-North and LIRR trains’ status, location and times, plan a trip and enjoy the benefits of the eTix ticket-buying functionality on the new app. Straphangers will also be able to chat with a customer representative, get real-time seat availability and the train makeup for the Metro-North and LIRR too, said the MTA.

MTA eTix users will have an automatic update to their app to TrainTime come mid-August. Their account information will be the same and they will be able use any tickets they have already bought using the same payment methods, according to the agency.

Metro-North and LIRR app users will have to download the new app when it's available, and people will have a password-less sign-in via Google, Apple or SMS, according to an MTA spokesman.

A two-week public beta test of the new TrainTime app is now underway and the transportation agency asks people who have received a link to it to share their feedback or suggestions via email. The MTA will be sending more invites for the beta test before the launch later this month, however, space is limited, said the agency.