Amtrak passengers now can pay for tickets via digital wallet services Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal, each of which have been made available as payments options on Amtrak's website and mobile app.
The rail service described the move as a bid to enhance convenience and enable quicker bookings by obviating the need to enter payment card information when booking trips. Passengers can save any of the three digital wallets as the default payment option in their user profile to further speed the process, Amtrak said.
The new payment service integrations also provide another option for contactless booking, an increased point of emphasis amid hygiene and safety concerns amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has drastically cut into Amtrak's ridership and revenue.
Last month, the service reported that total customer trips plummeted by more than 15 million, to 16.8 million, during its 2020 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Total operating revenue dropped 32 percent for the same period to $2.3 billion, according to Amtrak, which pleaded for additional funding in order to avoid further service and staffing reductions.
On Dec. 1, Stephen Gardner assumed the role of Amtrak president, a newly established position charged with helping the service successfully navigate the current financial turmoil.