Heathrow express is being used as the global launch vehicle for AVANTIXMetro, a French-built system that sends pre-booked tickets to travellers' mobile phones or PDAs.
Customers book online via www.heathrowexpress.com and are then sent either a bar-coded e-ticket registered to their mobile phone, or a printable version of the ticket. Both types can be scanned and validated on board the train.
Heathrow Express international corporate account manager George Fripp says: "Most of our customers are incredibly busy professionals who use our service because it's the most convenient way to get to and from Heathrow Airport.
"E-ticketing builds on that by taking the hassle out of booking journeys and making their travel even more seamless. All you need to do is book, board the train, and go. It's as simple as that."
AVANTIXMetro has been developed by Atos Origin which, through a four-year-old deal with the International Olympic Committee, manages the Beijing Olympics' IT system, relaying results to spectators and media around the world.