Timely ticket scanning

[MARC Rider]

I once rode to Atlanta in a Slumbercoach on the Crescent in 1990, and they had a whole check-in procedure at the information desk in Baltimore. They checked my name off a big computer print-out of the passenger manifest, and told me where to stand on the platform to access my car. It was a pretty long train, with coaches, a diner, a lounge car, several sleepers, and the slumbercoach. They may have been running the separate section to Mobile at the time, too, but I don't remember now.

 

[Acela150]

Folks, when I get to a computer later tonight I can dispel some of the truths and myths. As well as give you some accurate information about ticket scanning and the timing.

 

[jis]

Folks, when I get to a computer later tonight I can dispel some of the truths and myths. As well as give you some accurate information about ticket scanning and the timing.

That would be most welcome since we are in an extended exercise of one sided speculation at this point. Only concrete stuff we have is specific observed events, and the we are trying to extrapolate from those, which may or may not produce valid conjectures.

 

[railiner]

They may have been running the separate section to Mobile at the time, too, but I don't remember now.

They were...

The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)

 

[Acela150]

I noticed this on a recent BBY-PGH trip my family and I took. We were in coach on the NER, so there was no question of our assigned seats being bought by someone else, but the conductor did not scan tickets until we were almost to Kingston RI. I am just thankful it did not show up as a no show since that would have cancelled our PHL-PGH trip on the Pennsylvanian.

Not sure of when you traveled. But if you were on 95 that train can be pretty heavy out of BOS, BBY, & RTE.

The Conductor has to notify that he is done scanning for anything to become no show. Apparently s/he was aware that scanning was not complete and did not notify the system as such, so nothing would have been converted to no show.

A common myth that is being put to bed. Conductors have no way to notify that our lift is complete out of any station. If tickets aren't lifted within a certain time frame they'll go to "no show" status. However it is possible to reinstate a no show on the device.

You are referring to the Sweep button. I don't think it actually affects no show processing. I've seen no shows process even when I've not used the sweep function.

The delays in scanning tickets are seeing are more likely related to short staffing.

Correct. The sweep function is an optional feature.

As much as I enjoy the unrestricted platform access in much of the US, except where gate dragons rule like at CHI, ALB, and certain NEC stations, I sympathize with the ticket lifting issue.

As much as people complain about those "gate dragons" they were a huge benefit to the conductors. They no longer check tickets at the gate and that results in people getting on the wrong train and conductors telling them to get off at the next stop and wait for the right train.

Same here on other LD trains. I believe that sometimes, the SCA will report your presence to the conductor.

Yes. This is an extremely common practice. I did it during my OBS days on ocassion.

Usually when I get on the LSL or Capitol in Cleveland, I'm the only one getting on sleeper and they just ask my name.

That's a common way to look up a pax ticket.

That would be most welcome since we are in an extended exercise of one sided speculation at this point. Only concrete stuff we have is specific observed events, and the we are trying to extrapolate from those, which may or may not produce valid conjectures.

Not a problem my friend! Always enjoy helping out when I can.

If you rely entirely on digital systems this type of thing will occur. That's why it's good that conductors are still humans and (hopefully) able to apply some common sense.

If an issue occurs where someone's reservation shows up as cancelled and it's due to conductors failing to scan one leg of a round trip or multi leg trip there is an internal reservations desk we can call at CNOC that can help us reinstate the entire reservation.

 

[Willbridge]

They used to do it inside the station, at the “check-in desk”, when I worked there in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Not scanned back then, but lifted. Coach passengers were issued seat checks with their destination and car number (but open seating within that car)…

The check-in desks were removed in order to make more room for the drinking and dining customers. In bitter cold, the conductors do ad lib ticket scanning indoors.

Here's the old location:


Here's the new location:


The narrow spot caused by the elevator shaft is used as a control point:

 

[railiner]

The check-in desks were removed in order to make more room for the drinking and dining customers. In bitter cold, the conductors do ad lib ticket scanning indoors.

Here's the old location:
View attachment 30691

Here's the new location:
View attachment 30692

The narrow spot caused by the elevator shaft is used as a control point:
View attachment 30693

Ah....Progress!