SEPTA token sales at train stations?

[h***@bbs.cpcn.com]

Can one buy SEPTA transit tokens at Regional Rail station ticket
offices? Particularly, the two-pack?

I know someone who will take the train to 30th Street, and the Subway
Surface from there. Can they get a 2-pack of tokens at the SEPTA
ticket office in 30th St railroad station or from the subway cashier?

Thanks!

[Art Clemons]

Can one buy SEPTA transit tokens at  Regional Rail station ticket
offices?  Particularly, the two-pack?
I know someone who will take the train to 30th Street, and the Subway
Surface from there.  Can they get a 2-pack of tokens at the SEPTA
ticket office in 30th St railroad station or from the subway cashier?

Some ticket offices feature tokens in 5 packs. However, at 30th ST, there
is a machine which will sell tokens, rather than a cashier. One hint
though, if the individual is buying tickets beforehand, the individual
might want to ask the ticket seller if tokens are sold.

I don't recall tokens being sold at the 30th St regional rail ticket windows
but they could have them available. They do sell transpasses and
trailpasses.

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by Art Clemons

Can one buy SEPTA transit tokens at  Regional Rail station ticket
offices?  Particularly, the two-pack?
I know someone who will take the train to 30th Street, and the Subway
Surface from there.  Can they get a 2-pack of tokens at the SEPTA
ticket office in 30th St railroad station or from the subway cashier?

Some ticket offices feature tokens in 5 packs. However, at 30th ST, there
is a machine which will sell tokens, rather than a cashier. One hint
though, if the individual is buying tickets beforehand, the individual
might want to ask the ticket seller if tokens are sold.
I don't recall tokens being sold at the 30th St regional rail ticket windows
but they could have them available. They do sell transpasses and
trailpasses.

I'm pretty sure there's a sales cashier(passes/tokens) in the
30th St El station, above stairs, platform above the train level
platform.

[John]

On Aug 9, 6:06 am, ***@pobox.upenn.edu (Karen Y Byrd) wrote:

<snip>

Post by Karen Y Byrd
I'm pretty sure there's a sales cashier(passes/tokens) in the
30th St El station, above stairs, platform above the train level
platform.

This is one of the sad things I remember about Philadelphia - it's
hard to be certain that there's going to be a "feature" someplace
(like 30th St.) which would be considered part and parcel of the
system as a whole anyplace else (that doesn't have automated fare
collection systems). It goes for other things too, like wine in a
restaurant. You have to guess.

The image crossing my mind right now is that of an older, serviceable
PC alongside a new MacBook. The MacBook, in this case, might be
Portland. To spin out the analogy a little more, the MacBook feels
like a unitary design, more than the sum of its parts. The PC, on the
other hand, has gone through an upgrade, has obvious multiple
component manufacturers, has an Ethernet card added, and it was
upgraded to XP. Both boxes work; you just feel better with the
MacBook.

Don't take that as a Mac vs. PC comparison - if Philadelphia is the
PC, Portland (OR) would be the Mac. That's not a a fair comparison.
Nevertheless, I hope you see what I mean.

And I really do like Philadelphia.

[Merritt Mullen]

Post by John
<snip>

Post by Karen Y Byrd
I'm pretty sure there's a sales cashier(passes/tokens) in the
30th St El station, above stairs, platform above the train level
platform.

This is one of the sad things I remember about Philadelphia - it's
hard to be certain that there's going to be a "feature" someplace
(like 30th St.) which would be considered part and parcel of the
system as a whole anyplace else (that doesn't have automated fare
collection systems). It goes for other things too, like wine in a
restaurant. You have to guess.

Sounds a bit like the Boston transit system (the "T").

Merritt

[Shawn Hirn]

Post by John
<snip>

Post by Karen Y Byrd
I'm pretty sure there's a sales cashier(passes/tokens) in the
30th St El station, above stairs, platform above the train level
platform.

This is one of the sad things I remember about Philadelphia - it's
hard to be certain that there's going to be a "feature" someplace
(like 30th St.) which would be considered part and parcel of the
system as a whole anyplace else (that doesn't have automated fare
collection systems). It goes for other things too, like wine in a
restaurant. You have to guess.
The image crossing my mind right now is that of an older, serviceable
PC alongside a new MacBook. The MacBook, in this case, might be
Portland. To spin out the analogy a little more, the MacBook feels
like a unitary design, more than the sum of its parts. The PC, on the
other hand, has gone through an upgrade, has obvious multiple
component manufacturers, has an Ethernet card added, and it was
upgraded to XP. Both boxes work; you just feel better with the
MacBook.
Don't take that as a Mac vs. PC comparison - if Philadelphia is the
PC, Portland (OR) would be the Mac. That's not a a fair comparison.
Nevertheless, I hope you see what I mean.
And I really do like Philadelphia.

I have never been to Oregon. I have a MacBook Pro and I am using it now,
but I will take your word on the analogy to public transit systems.

[h***@bbs.cpcn.com]

Post by John
This is one of the sad things I remember about Philadelphia - it's
hard to be certain that there's going to be a "feature" someplace
(like 30th St.) which would be considered part and parcel of the
system as a whole anyplace else (that doesn't have automated fare
collection systems). It goes for other things too, like wine in a
restaurant. You have to guess.

Automation has nothing to do with it, indeed, dependence on automation
without adequate support make things WORSE.

Be it a modern high tech machine or a clerk in an 19th C eyeshade
doesn't matter. First, the SEPTA ticket office within the railroad
station should sell ALL fare instruments. Secondly, the cashier in
the subway station ought to sell all transit instruments or there
should be a machine nearby. Which doesn't matter as long as the items
are sold.

As an aside, 'automation' just utterly failed the other day in NYC.
Their only broadcast method of communication now is their website,
which was hopelessly overwhelmed due to a bad storm. No one knew
anything (the subways were mostly shut down). They never really
utilized the older PA systems or telephone relay messaging they had
(and still have) before websites.

[John M.]

***@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

<snip>

Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
Automation has nothing to do with it, indeed, dependence on automation
without adequate support make things WORSE.

I agree completely. Consistency is what's important, not technology.
Knowing someone is somewhere to do what you need at the time and place
you need it (selling fare instruments at any time the system is running,
for example), is what I'm suggesting is the appropriate approach to
providing an integrated transportation service.

John

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by John
<snip>

Post by Karen Y Byrd
I'm pretty sure there's a sales cashier(passes/tokens) in the
30th St El station, above stairs, platform above the train level
platform.

This is one of the sad things I remember about Philadelphia - it's
hard to be certain that there's going to be a "feature" someplace
(like 30th St.) which would be considered part and parcel of the
system as a whole anyplace else (that doesn't have automated fare
collection systems). It goes for other things too, like wine in a
restaurant. You have to guess.

I agree and it stinks even for those of us who live here and
use septa quite frequently. I try to imagine what
it's got to be like for tourists who try to use the
system!

[Shawn Hirn]

Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
Can one buy SEPTA transit tokens at Regional Rail station ticket
offices? Particularly, the two-pack?
I know someone who will take the train to 30th Street, and the Subway
Surface from there. Can they get a 2-pack of tokens at the SEPTA
ticket office in 30th St railroad station or from the subway cashier?

There are machines available in the subway platforms at 30th Street
station, but I don't know what the minimum number of tokens those
machines dispense is.