Myanmar’s trains, despite constant upgrades touted in news reports (including our own), still feel old and outdated.
So does the process of buying a ticket at the station, where schedules and prices are sometimes written on paper.
But that could change with a new mobile app for buying train tickets.
The app, which is about to enter a testing phase, is the result of collaboration between Myanmar Railways and payment services company OK dollar, Myanmar Business Today reported.
“It is a great chance to buy train tickets via smart phones with no need to go and buy tickets at the railway stations,” said MR’s operations department manager Kyaw Soe Lin. “It is accessible and saves time. Right now, we are negotiating with the company and it will be launched soon.”
According to the report, the payment works sort of like topping up phone credit. After installing the app, you buy credit from a store and purchase tickets via the app then show the receipt to the conductor.
Easy breezy.
“If the mobile payment system is successful, it will be great a benefit for train users and also staff. There is no need to worry for mobile payment users who arrive at the train station on time, even if [the] train is about to leave the station. Just take a seat and show the ticket inspector the reply message,” Kyaw Soe Lin was quoted as saying.
With more people than ever on smartphones since the reduction of sim card prices in 2014, the app could come at the right time.
Here’s hoping it leaves the station.
Sorry for the horrible pun. Could not resist.
