Great Western Coffee Shop

Here's a thought - rather than checking tickets on train and at station exit, why not simply charge people to get onto the platform, and it's then up to them to get off on whichever other network platform they like.

"It wouldn't work BECAUSE" ... I hear you say.   Yet in works on the New York Subway and on the PATH, where I was at the tail end of last week.   Looking and learning as part of our 'holiday' trip - and seeing some very different systems and perhaps picking up one or two ideas, and a few hundred pieces of knowledge.

Take a look at http://www.wellho.net/mouth/4486_.html for my Newark Travelogue - posted into "Fares" because much of my confusion and issue was with their fare system.   Some things are the same the world over!

Just to give you a flavour ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/c15_4_14.jpg)

Limited to no inter use of fare payment systems between PATH, NJ Transit, and Hudson^Bergen Light Rail never seems to be solved (there is some between PATH and the New York Subway as the former accepts the MetroCard).

The PATH Smartlink card comes in two flavours - the one you bought in the end sounds as it was the successor to the old 'Quickcard' which was always capable of multiple person use.

The thinned out overnight service can be run on one rail permitting maintenance on the other.

Now that would be an interesting sight!

One pair of rails if you prefer ...

I think it might be safer. So the NTSB may prefer it that way.

And there was me thinking it turned into a Listowel and Ballybunion (http://www.ballybunion.ie/history-and-folklore/lartigue-monorail.html) operation on the stroke of midnight!

I must add comment that despite having being an SandTEngineer for many years (too many to mention) I have never seen a level crossing like the one in those photographs and video......... :o ;) ::) :P