Boston Transit: A recommendation to get the Zone 1A commuter rail pass instead of the LinkPass...

[randomness]

...from Train Mon, at http://trainmon.blogspot.com/2006/12/zone-1a-read-fine-print-do-detective.html:

By now, after reading a few other's blogs, it seems those chosen few savvy of us, such as myself, who live in the inner-city and inner-suburbs and regularly chose to beat the "rapid" transit bus and subway system by taking the Commuter Rail have come to the realization that, once January hits, the newly minted "Monthly Zone 1A Pass," not a CharlieCard loaded with the "Monthly LinkPass" will be the way to go. This is especially a concern for those of us who get our passes, way a gracious discount, through our prospective employers and have only another week or so to make sure we're getting the right pass for next month.

Train Mon goes through the logic in exhaustive detail.

Discuss.

Comments

[hotpoint.livejournal.com]

I'd noticed the odd discrepancy between the two myself. My guess is that they could have had the paper version of the LinkPass work on commuter rail, but not the contactless version; having the same pass have fewer privileges in the new device they want everybody to use is probably bad PR. The number of Zone 1A/1B stations is relatively small, and I don't know how many people take advantage of the current pass privilege at them. The T could also be attempting to discourage subway riders from taking commuter rail, but I think it's more likely that the Zone 1A Pass is just a temporary hack as the article concluded.

Now, I wonder how the MBTA can build on the new fare machinery to implement a Proof of Payment system for the Green Line and buses, or to no longer require conductors on trains (fare gates at the ends of platforms at North, South and Back Bay stations, akin to London commuter stations, and ticket-franking machines on distal platforms?) Hmmm...

[frotz.livejournal.com]

Train Main and Elizabeth are fucked. The MBTA Corporate Pass Program is not providing zone 1A passes, only local bus passes, linkpasses, boat passes, and zone 1-8 commuter rail passes.

At least, that's what I heard when I tried to sign up for a 1A pass come January. Perhaps if the MBTA gets enough complaints they'll change their mind.