I first reported two weeks ago about the $3 surcharge — sorry, the MBTA is calling it a “non-discount” — that the T will soon tack on for all commuter rail customers buying tickets on board. That one had gone unnoticed among the scores of changes coming July 1, but it has since struck a nerve with readers and lawmakers.
If you missed it, the T has been trying to cut down on the number of cash transactions on the commuter rail and reduced the number of people riding for free, even inadvertently. That’s laudable, but they’ve been going about it in a way that many see as ham-handed or unfair.
Comments
The T is punishing rail commuters for its own systems inadequacies. It is immorality overcharging commuters because the T is so mismanaged. why should tickets have an expire date? good hard earned cash was paid for the ticket. no other entity is allowed to set such short expiration dates. How about implementing expiration time on late trains? If a train is more than 5 minutes late - all riders get free rides and prorata refunds. How's that for a expiration penalty. Fare is fare.
The non-discount is obnoxious. The MBTA is pushing away customers. Most of these commuter rail vendors are not open early enough for early train riders, not open on Sundays, accept cash only, are out of the way with limited accessibility, and generally add at least 20 minutes to the commuter rail commute. Then add the ever-present possibility of a delay, and you're really making me wonder why I bother. Let me buy my ticket at the station!
People!!! Where are all of you? Why aren't all of you that ride the rails commenting on this abhorant act by the T? Please get your heads out of the sand and post a comment here! It's your MONEY they're taking!
While I frequently criticize the MBTA for incompetence and gross mismanagement, it is less efficient to have conductors collect cash during peak periods and they did make announcements every morning to let riders know this was coming.