Originally Posted by
donnde
There's been some discussion on Metra in the Chicago press regarding how their practices are stuck in the 1950s. Paper tickets, payment by cash or check only, conductors with hand punches, no online ticket purchases, etc. One thing I noticed immediately was that AM / PM is not very clear as you scroll across the results of the custom schedule feature.
Pretty much every commuter rail system in the U-S uses paper tickets, as does Amtrak. (Of course, monthly passes aren't really "paper tickets" anyhow.)
Also, Metra sells monthly and 10-ride tickets online (where you can pay with a credit card, BTW). I don't really get the comment about hand punches? I guess a conductor could just rip the ticket in half...but it seems like an odd thing to criticize. Bottom line, I don't think Metra is particularly behind the curve when it comes to commuter rail ticketing technology. I mean, you may as well say that since trains were invented in the 1800's, the entire Metra system is "stuck in the 19th Century".
I mean, there are definitely ways to incorporate new technology. You could purchase a ticket on your cell phone, and have the conductor scan it. I
guess that would be "better", and I suppose ultimately that will be an option. But I don't actually see much wrong with the current system.