checkthedoorlight wrote:I've heard arguments for both from active MNRR conductors, which means that either there's no official policy...
I tend to agree, aspects of the fare rules are ambiguous at best... but that is what gives the conductors leeway. Lots of this is based on principle and not hard rules. You can only apply rules to specific situations, but principles can be adapted. Conductors have discretion if someone should be charged based on extenuating circumstances with the exception of station fare and on-board fares.
Well from MNRR timetable... "Should any questions arise as to proper fare and ticket privileges, please pay fare requested, obtain receipt, and communicate with us."
I've actually asked this question to the head of PRA before they retired just a few months ago.
It was like this an express train Stamford to GCT with D stop at Fordham. Someone gets on at Fordham with no ticket at all. You would not charge from Mt. Vernon because the train didn't stop there. Everyone else on the train paid from at least Stamford to GCT, why should someone getting on at Fordham(which they can't do) pay only from Mt. Vernon to GCT when everyone else is paying more. That was the answer I got. There's only a handful of trains where this situation can happen according to the current timetable(Discharge at Fordham when last stop other than Mt. Vernon East). Overall this is a very rare thing to happen. And though I hate to say it there are ways a customer could talk their way out of it. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Really, sometimes it's not worth calling cops, delaying trains and going crazy for something you know you can't win.
But anyway, talking about fares on this forum is not to be taken as an official response. So take whatever you get here with a grain of salt.