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

Ain’t nobody every jumped a turnstile amirite??!

Turnstiles are just as much an honor system as onboard ticket collectors if you don’t have someone checking over them….and even then, no employee is gonna care to run after the jumpers. Trains systems all over the world are based on this honor system. Vast majority of people are honest and the tickets are so expensive that they make up whatever “loss” they have from jumpers.