by ExCon90
It is a good system, and works well wherever it is properly designed and managed. There are a few properties where there seems to be a mindset that "POP doesn't work"; the problem is how to change some minds.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: sery2831, CRail
Noel Weaver wrote:I think proof of payment is the best way for the MBTA to go on their commuter trains. Sure a few will get away without paying but the penalty can be quite stiff and a good stiff penalty would be very effective to combat those who would try to take advantage of the system. Here in South Florida Tri-Rail runs 25 trains each way Monday through Friday and sure sometimes I don't get checked but more than half of the time I get checked both ways. Those without valid transportation get wacked with a summons and have to appear in court. I think the penalties range upwards of $50.00, maybe much more. They often remove them from the train as well and that can be nasty in this case. The officers on the trains have arrest powers and are armed so the ones who get nailed generally don't give them too much guff. In the case of Boston you would probably need a higher number of officers because they carry a lot more folks on longer trains but the system works and works quite well. We have both passes which you tap on or tap off and they also work on Miami Dade Transit trains and you get a transfer discound and a senior discount as well if you are 65 or over. Another plus when somebody starts causing trouble on the train the conductor does not have to call for a cop, there is already one on each and every train. I think it is a good system.NW and Everyone:
Noel Weaver
deathtopumpkins wrote:Nothing in the news as of late, or that I can find on the T website, but I noted at North Station yesterday that there's a ~10' wide strip in front of the doors the whole length of the concourse painted with stripes and a message not to stand there. Guessing this is where they're planning on checking tickets.Update from The Boston Globe.
News articles from earlier this summer said gates could appear "by winter".
Passengers who had been planning to buy on-board will be steered to ticket counters or an electronic payment appI can't speak for Back Bay or North Station, but although I think the South Station ticket agents are very friendly and competent, they will not be able to handle this crush of people.
Rbts Stn wrote:Not to mention the people who are running late and just ignore the ticket agents and run right past them to catch the train just in time.Passengers who had been planning to buy on-board will be steered to ticket counters or an electronic payment appI can't speak for Back Bay or North Station, but although I think the South Station ticket agents are very friendly and competent, they will not be able to handle this crush of people.
RenegadeMonster wrote: Also, I wonder if we will be double checked. In the past when they have done random ticket checks at north station we were told to keep our tickets out. They weren't checking if we paid the correct amount or punching those charlicard tickets. They didn't even check if the tickets were expired. They were just checking whether we had a ticket or not. The conductors still had to check fares onboard the train and that our tickets were valid. I wonder if it will be much of the same.The article specifically says that conductors will continue checking tickets aboard trains as usual. So yes, if you board at North Station they'll check your ticket on the platform and then the conductor will check it again on the train.
deathtopumpkins wrote:This is fairly similar to how it's done in some other countries. At many UK stations for example, you need a valid ticket to get through a gate onto the platform, and then the conductor actually checks your ticket on the train.For intercity trains or the equivalent of commuter rail?
saulblum wrote: For intercity trains or the equivalent of commuter rail?Both.
deathtopumpkins wrote:Exactly. There's no way the station agents know how far you're going, you can tell them every day you're just going to Yawkey Station but the conductors will know if you stay on until Framingham.RenegadeMonster wrote: Also, I wonder if we will be double checked. In the past when they have done random ticket checks at north station we were told to keep our tickets out. They weren't checking if we paid the correct amount or punching those charlicard tickets. They didn't even check if the tickets were expired. They were just checking whether we had a ticket or not. The conductors still had to check fares onboard the train and that our tickets were valid. I wonder if it will be much of the same.The article specifically says that conductors will continue checking tickets aboard trains as usual. So yes, if you board at North Station they'll check your ticket on the platform and then the conductor will check it again on the train.
This is fairly similar to how it's done in some other countries. At many UK stations for example, you need a valid ticket to get through a gate onto the platform, and then the conductor actually checks your ticket on the train.