Berlin U Bahn: gateless

[jon0844]

Given so many people get caught, it would appear the hefty fine isn't that good a deterrent.

I am not sure if TOCs still employ plain-clothed ticket inspectors here (well obviously normal RPIs who occasionally go without uniform) as they always seemed quite effective on the same basis of nobody knowing if the person sitting next to them or opposite is going to jump up and pull a badge.

 

[Groningen]

The fine for having no ticket in Luxemburg in bus or train is 150 euro, while a dayticket for the train is only 4 euro. Why take the risk?

 

[gordonthemoron]

you used to see staff on the East Berlin ghost u-bahn stations pre 1989, they were armed Stasi

 

[ModernRailways]

I remember being in Cologne a couple years back, we were on the tram heading back to our hotel and about 4 or 5 ticket inspectors got on. There was possibly 20 people on the tram in total (including me and two friends), and with the exception of me, my friends and possibly 4 or 5 others, no-one had tickets. The ticket inspectors asked them all for IDs, and then kept hold of them (the IDs) as they got off the tram. That was my first and only ticket check whilst I've been in Germany - I've seen them 'setting up' at a staircase one other time. Travelling on their mainline services I've never had my ticket checked either, even in first class where I'd sort of expect them to be more likely to check.

 

[axlecounter]

Given so many people get caught, it would appear the hefty fine isn't that good a deterrent.

Well, it’s the price you pay to have a gateless system. I very much prefer this than a prison-like place with gates and stuff.
Anyway in a very big and peculiar city like Berlin you would have quite a few ticket problems even with gates, and you’d have to pay a lot of money to have that in place and mantain it.

 

[dutchflyer]

This ''trust''system is about in the whole of EUR-not just DE=Germany, also Austria, CZ, HU (but inspectors stand now at all metro-entries). Major exceptions are SE, PL(only WAW-metro) and Spain and Italy and France, and since that silly chipcard here in NL. And then thats for metro only-many more people travel daily by tram or artic bus-unchecked.
One major reason the germans have it, is due to the enormous complexity and inter-availablity of through fares and many ride-at-will tickets from 100s of different operators (or even hotelcards). They have tried and tried again, but it simply proved impossible to build something that would recognise that whole lot.
We OTOH think of you in UK as being overhyped to loss of income and an over-complex impossible to follow and with many near idiot aspects (return cost less as single-its not an airline!) of fares. Just the way cultural differences creep into it - continental vs. island thinking.
In the USA-when they started with building many new tram-systems, they also had to accept that the old system of checking anyone would not be feasible and just copied the germans (as they also did with the trams themselves).

 

[dutchflyer]

As an aside: its also tipical for Brits (just read the many traveller fora etc.) to not realise they have to validate/datestamp or whatever there is to do with just bought tickets-making them still ride ''black'' and getting fined with paid-for tickets without such.

 

[ModernRailways]

As an aside: its also tipical for Brits (just read the many traveller fora etc.) to not realise they have to validate/datestamp or whatever there is to do with just bought tickets-making them still ride ''black'' and getting fined with paid-for tickets without such.

It doesn't help that some TVMs will validate for you and have a date printed whereas some won't. I go to Cologne quite often, and the DB TVMs in the Hbf issue tickets with the date printed on them. However, if you buy your ticket from the TVMs in the U Bahn you need to validate them. Exact same ticket type too. It can all be very confusing, especially for someone unfamiliar with it.

 

[Groningen]

Even if you get a ticket from the counter or machine; you still have to checkin your railwayticket in the Netherlands.

 

[AnkleBoots]

It doesn't help that some TVMs will validate for you and have a date printed whereas some won't. I go to Cologne quite often, and the DB TVMs in the Hbf issue tickets with the date printed on them. However, if you buy your ticket from the TVMs in the U Bahn you need to validate them. Exact same ticket type too. It can all be very confusing, especially for someone unfamiliar with it.

Agreed. And sometimes you can buy an unvalidated ticket showing the date it was printed, which can be mistaken for the validation date.