eli5: why do long distance train systems (like Amtrak) and a lot of regional rails (like the Long Island Rail Road) use on-board ticket collectors to verify tickets, instead of turnstile systems at individual stations (like metros and subways use)?

Question

It just seems like a terribly inefficient system to verify someone’s right to access the train once they are already on the train…..

In: Other

Answer 1

On-board ticket collectors are more reliable, in exchange for being slower and costing more. That makes them more worthwhile for services where the fare is large, because recovering a missing fare is more valuable.

Also, turnstiles don’t mix well with luggage, so they are a less attractive solution for long-distance systems. You’re also more likely to have people who aren’t travelling need to get onto the platform for long-distance systems, such as family members helping people to get to the train and see them off. Turnstiles get in the way of that, because they assume that everyone going to the platform is getting onto the train.