The Long Island Rail Road is testing out a new wireless, handheld device that will allow passengers to buy tickets onboard with credit cards.
The railroad will be using the Ticket Issuance Machine, nicknamed TIM, on all trains between Ronkonkoma and Greenport starting Tuesday.
Later this month, the LIRR will begin using the device on some weekend Montauk trains.
Most riders Tuesday welcomed the program. "Those two minutes you spend buying a ticket, you can miss the train," said Adam Vitale.
"It's great, especially when I'm running late," said Samantha Licari. "I don't have that much cash on me. One time, I had to pay like $43."
The pilot program will run through October. If successful, the railroad will consider using the devices system-wide.
LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto told Newsday that onboard sales accounted for 2.6 percent of ticket revenue in 2010.
Of 25 million one-way tickets purchased that year, 1.1 million were sold on trains.
