If you take Montreal's commuter trains to work or school from the suburbs, you may be able to get away with riding without a ticket -- for now.
The Réseau de transport métropolitain, which runs commuter-rail service in and around Montreal, told its inspectors in a private directive last month that they do not have to ask passengers for proof they've paid for a ticket. It comes after several inspectors reportedly told the RTM they'd been harassed by irate passengers, frustrated with growing delays and overcrowded trains.
At Roxobo-Pierrefonds station on the West Island, commuters waiting for the 7:50 Deux-Montagnes line train to Central Station told CJAD 800 they were surprised. Julie, who commutes every day to McGill University downtown, said she already pays for a monthly ticket but might tell her friends they can skip getting one. She said she's been getting angry with the delays, too, saying on day when she had a big exam, she left hours ahead of schedule. "I had to take the 6:48 train, because it was snowing and I was like, 'it's probably gonna be late...'"
Some passengers expressed sympathy for the harrassed fare-collectors. "I do feel bad for the employees, because it's not their fault," said Laura, who also takes the Deux-Montagnes line downtown every day. However, she added that she thinks its good that some passengers are "standing up for themselves" after repeated issues aboard trains.
For the record on the RTM fare-checking story: I paid for my ticket in both directions, and rode the Deux-Montagnes line from Central Station to Roxboro-Pierrefonds and back this morning. I saw an inspector exactly once, and he didn't check anyone's tickets.
— Benson H. Cook (@bensonhcook) 15 March 2018
On board that downtown-bound train, no ticket inspector ever entered the front two railcars. On one from downtown to Deux-Montagnes earlier in the morning, an inspector did appear -- after the train had already passed four stations -- but didn't ask any passenger on board for their tickets.
The RTM has emphasized this measure -- which was kept a secret until Radio-Canada obtained a copy of the directive this week -- is only temporary. Normal fare-inspections will resume on the 19th of March. Under the RTM's rules, if you're caught riding a train without a ticket, you can face a hefty fine of $122.