by ExCon90
As information for anyone planning to visit LA, I discovered on my current trip that Metrolink has amended its original policy that the clock started on your ticket at the time of purchase, making it impossible to buy a ticket ahead of time. The machines now offer the option of specifying the time and date when you want validity to begin, so you can buy a ticket the day before to save any complications on the day of travel, such as being stuck behind someone in line who is baffled by the machine while the bells and flashers are going and you can see your train approaching. I didn't experiment to discover how far in advance you can purchase a ticket, but it seems to be more than just a day or so.