SEPTA Suspends Pay-on-Board Option for Some Trains

Starting Monday, Aug. 1, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., as part of SEPTA’s ongoing effort to improve operational efficiency during the current rail car shortage, Regional Rail fares will be collected and validated before customers enter the platform area at Center City stations.

Customers entering Temple, Jefferson, Suburban, 30th Street and University City Stations will be able to have their passes, tickets or transit identification, such as Pennsylvania Senior Cards and Reduced Fare Cards, validated by SEPTA personnel at the top of each stairwell. Once fares are validated, customers can proceed to the platform to board trains. This will eliminate the need for customers to pay for their trip on-board trains.

Customers who do not have one of these pre-purchased fares can purchase tickets at the station ticket office before going to the stairway fare lines. Tickets cannot be purchased from the fare validation personnel or from train conductors during the evening rush hour.

“This change will better enable conductors to focus on maintaining safe and efficient train operations by eliminating the need for them to validate and collect fares,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. “We expect this to help improve the efficiency of our Regional Rail operations, and make travel more convenient for our customers.

“This is also an issue of equity,” Knueppel added. “Crowded conditions can make it difficult for conductors to collect and validate fares. By moving this to the stations, we help ensure fair treatment for all customers.”

This temporary new fare procedure only applies to the weekday PM rush. There will be no change to fare collection and validation procedures for all other hours of the day and on weekends.

For more information, visit http://www.septa.org/service/contingency.html#fares.