CTrain riders will need to scan tickets before boarding, starting Wednesday

CTrain customers using electronic tickets will need to scan them at the stations before boarding as part of a new measure to tackle fare evasion.

The new policy goes into effect on Wednesday, with the installation of 112 ticket validators across Calgary Transit's network of stations around the city.

Previously, customers who bought a mobile ticket would only need to activate it on their phones for it to count as proof of fare, but now they'll also need to validate it at CTrain stations or face a $250 fine.

Tess Abanto, manager of transit service design, said the measure is being introduced to recoup potential lost revenue. Up until now, she said customers have been able to purchase a ticket, which can be used anytime in the ensuing seven days, and only activate it if they see a transit peace officer approaching on the train

"We found that not all our customers are using the ticket correctly," Abanto said. "We found in our analysis that about 46 per cent of adult tickets are not valid or not activated properly, and 50 per cent of our youth tickets are also not activated properly. So we wanted to correct that."

For now, ticket validators are being installed at CTrain stations, not on the trains themselves. Abanto said Calgary Transit will monitor whether more validators are needed, and consider increasing the number at specific stations if needed.

Marcia Gonder, chief of public vehicle standards, said the city wants to ensure customers are paying transit fares, and that they understand how to do so. To do this, the city and Calgary Transit will run an educational campaign to familiarize riders with the new system.

But Gonder and Abanto noted the new system aligns with how mobile ticketing already works on Calgary buses.

"It's not a massive change," Gonder said. "The validators are already on buses, so we don't foresee a huge change piece, but we will be adapting accordingly"

Calgary Transit introduced its mobile ticketing system five years ago with the My Fare app. The system followed two failed attempts at electronic fare payments in Calgary more than a decade ago.

Abanto said Calgary Transit plans to implement a system in the future where customers can use debit and credit cards on the system.