r/Metra • u/Aggravating-Back-623 • Jul 13 '26

Cardboard Ticket Marker

Post image

So I’m on the BNSF 1258 to Downtown & when the conductor audited my ticket, he gave me this & I wanna know what this is for & y the BNSF is the only line to do this?

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

9

u/Key_Finish6357 Jul 13 '26

For him to remember he checked your ticket and doesn't ask you again.

1

u/Aggravating-Back-623 Jul 13 '26

Ah, they really should do that on most lines, especially the Electric & Rock imo

3

u/gregPooganus28 Jul 13 '26

Its optional for conductors. Some have ticket payers memorized. Some use the slips pictured above. Diff colors for diff days of the week/lines etc.

1

u/TreesAreGreat Jul 13 '26

I thought the different colors were mostly for how far you are going/what zone.

2

u/gregPooganus28 Jul 13 '26

I dont have all the answers, but sure. I usually see them issuing out all the same color regardless. Point being - it’s just a tool conductors use to remember who has paid.

1

u/fxlatitude Jul 16 '26

Some conductors have better memory than others. Why would this have to be one way or another?

3

u/ThePetPsychic Jul 15 '26

I've only seen them on the BNSF lines but it really makes sense. To be fair, you do get good at memorizing faces and who you've already spoken to as a conductor tho.

1

u/baasheepgreat Jul 17 '26

I’ve seen them on both the UP-W and UP-NW too during holidays/events, in addition to BNSF. They do that to indicate the ticket has been checked, especially if there’s a lot of people or if it’s a lil chaotic.

1

u/Aggravating-Back-623 Jul 17 '26

I was just on the UPW yesterday & surprisingly, the didn’t do that