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From: roma@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: subways / European rail
Message-ID: <16900008@uiucuxc>
Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 23:15:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.16900008
Posted: Thu Jan  9 23:15:00 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jan-86 02:35:53 EST
References: <238@decwrl.DEC.COM>
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Nf-ID: #R:decwrl.DEC.COM:238:uiucuxc:16900008:000:1121
Nf-From: uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU!roma    Jan  9 22:15:00 1986


> The Washington, DC Metro uses the same fare cards as BART.  

If my memory is correct, these magnetic fare cards first originated on
the Illinois Central electric suburban lines in the Chicago area about
1967.  I recall that there were LOTS of bugs (and headaches) when the
system was introduced.  I also remember hearing that this system was
tried on the Long Island, too.  Can anyone verify this? 

Unlike BART and the DC Metro, IC's cards are 'ride based', rather than
'value based'.  That is, when they're used, a ride is deducted, as opposed
to a value being deducted based on the ride.  Of course, there are checks
made to preclude a commuter from using his/her ticket beyond the zone for
which it was purchased.

I've always been curious as to the recording format for these tickets, but
the railroads concerned are understandably reluctant to divulge details.
Has anyone figured out anything interesting about them?

Jon Roma
Computing Services Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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