Train conductors will no longer be selling tickets onboard after mid-November, announced Swedish national rail operator SJ on Tuesday, claiming the current system is “too complicated and time consuming”.
“With the information we have and all the possibilities to buy tickets before travelling I don't think it will be a big problem,” said head of press at SJ Dag Rosander to the TT news agency.
The rule changes will come into play on November 15th and travellers without a ticket will face a penalty of 1,900 kronor ($284) on the direct trains, and 1,200 kronor on all others.
The rail operator only sells around 1 percent of tickets on the train and considers the process to be “too complicated and time consuming”.
The union however has aired concerns about the new plans.
“We see a risk that there will be more conflicts on the trains,” said Erik Johannesson, Union Head of SJ AB to the Norrbottens-Kuriren newspaper.
When pressed about what would happen if a customer didn't find the time to buy a ticket due to a delayed train, the SJ spokesman explained that train staff will not be too severe from the outset.
“One should always give people the benefit of the doubt in such situations as these. In the beginning, we won't be extremely harsh on people. Our colleagues have the freedom to find a solution to such situations,” Rosander told TT.
The new regulations will be duly advertised at train stations around the country before they take effect.