How does a ticket inspector on a train know who's showed their ticket and who hasn't?

Question

Do they just have an exceptionally good memory or what?

Answer 1

They usually start at the front and work their way back.

If you were exceptionally clever, you could be in the bathroom when they pass.  But, are you going to do this every day just to save a few bucks?  If they catch you, he will probably give you a warning.  I talked to one ticket inspector and asked the same thing.  He said if you lie, he will write you a ticket,  and it will cost you a lot more than a train ticket.  If you forgot or were running late and didn't get one, he may have you buy one at the next stop.  He said the funny people are the ones who pretend to have misplaced their ticket and search every pocket.  He's seen it all.

Answer 2

They are actually humanoid robots.

They will terminate anyone without a ticket.

Answer 3

As a former flight attendant, they have manifests of everyone who bought a ticket.  If the ticket cout does not match the # of passangers the will go and ask again!

Answer 4

On CalTrain in the San Francisco / San Jose area I've noticed how the conductor seems to do it on their double-decked cars (Bi-level gallery cars) during the commute hours.

Above each seat is the walkway for the upper-deck and the upper seats.  There are tiny clips there, and as the conductor checks your ticket, they place a tiny piece of paper above your seat (or at your feet if you're sitting on the upper-deck.

The paper sticks DOWN if the passenger is in the bottom level, UP if the ticket holder is in the upper deck, slightly to the front if the passenger is in the window-seat, and slightly backwards if the passenger is in the aisle seat.

Interestingly, on the ACE train (Altamont Commuter Express) almost everyone wears their ticket in a plastic-holder on a string around their neck.  The conductor zips through rather quickly after each station (about 25 miles apart) to check tickets.

OH, and on BOTH systems... if you don't have your ticket, the police WILL be waiting at the NEXT station to ticket you ($250)

Answer 5

They don't usually care how many times you showed it.  If they want to see it again, they will ask.  They may remember who has shown proof and who hasn't.

Answer 6

when i take septa or njt trains, they will take your ticket and hole punch it. after that their is a ticket pocket on the back of your seat or on the side and they will put your tickets their. when they walk by they see you have paid. on amtrak they take your ticket and rip there copy off and give you the customer copy. after that they take a piece of paper and write where you are going and put it above your seat. like if i was going to philadelphia, they would write phl on the paper and put it above your seat. also on another train i take, you buy tickets at the station and get onto the train. nobody ever checks them. but the problem is cops come one randonly maybe 1 out of every 5 trains and the people who have no tickets have to pay 100.00 fine for skipping out of a 1.15 ticket.

Answer 7

You can tell by looking at the passenger's eyes - trust me!